Russia says its position on Ukrainian peace reflects the situation on the ground

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's position on a possible peace deal with Ukraine has changed to reflect changes on the frontlines where Russia has been advancing, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.

Asked by Reuters if Russia's position had changed since June 2024 when President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine must officially drop its NATO ambitions and withdraw its troops from the entirety of the territory of four Ukrainian regions claimed by Russia, Zakharova said: "Yes, there are these changes in the Russian position."

"These changes are reflected by changes on the ground," she said.

Zakharova quoted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who in 2024 said that Ukraine shrank in territory every time it walked away from talks with Russia.

Russia currently controls a little under one fifth of Ukraine, and says the territory is now formally part of Russia, a position Ukraine and Western Europe do not accept.

Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Russian forces control almost all of Luhansk, and more than 70% of the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, according to Russian estimates. Russia also controls a sliver of Kharkiv region.

Zakharova said Moscow was grateful to China and Brazil for seeking a political and diplomatic settlement.

On possible talks in Istanbul, Zakharova said: "As for the Ukrainian side: how ready is it? What is it ready for? I think, this will be shown, including today in Istanbul."

Ukraine has repeatedly said that it will never formally recognise Russian control over swathes of its territory - and officials in Kyiv say that agreeing to Ukrainian neutrality is a red line they will not cross.

(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Guy Faulconbridge and Gleb Stolyarov; Editing by Andrew Osborn)