Ukraine has expressed its willingness to engage in more direct discussions with Russia. However, it has stipulated that Moscow must first provide its peace terms to ensure that these meetings are productive.
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“We are open to further meetings with the Russians and are currently awaiting their memorandum,” stated Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov in a recent post on X, previously known as Twitter.
“The Russian side has at least four more days before their scheduled departure to deliver their document for our review,” he emphasized.
In an earlier statement, Russia indicated that it has drafted a “peace memorandum” outlining its conditions for ending the ongoing conflict. This memorandum is set to be presented to Ukraine during a second round of talks in Istanbul on June 2.
“Our delegation, led by Vladimir Medinsky, is prepared to present the memorandum to the Ukrainian representatives and to provide any necessary explanations during the second round of direct talks in Istanbul on Monday, June 2,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov remarked in a video statement.
Mr. Lavrov further expressed gratitude to Turkey for hosting the discussions, a sentiment echoed by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during his recent visit to Moscow.
Mr. Medinsky, a political scientist and former culture minister, led Russia’s negotiating team during the initial talks on May 16.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has dismissed a proposal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a trilateral summit with U.S. President Donald Trump and President Putin. Russia maintains that any meeting involving Presidents Putin and Zelensky would only transpire once “concrete agreements” have been established between negotiators.
“I am prepared for any format,” stated President Zelensky, expressing his willingness for a meeting involving the three leaders.
He affirmed his readiness for a “Trump-Putin-me” meeting, illustrating his commitment to finding a diplomatic resolution.
In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated, “Such a meeting should result from concrete agreements made by the delegations.”
The earlier rounds of talks in Istanbul did not yield significant progress; however, both parties did agree on a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner swap, marking their largest exchange to date.
Russia has consistently resisted coordinated Western calls for an immediate ceasefire, while Ukraine urges increased pressure on Russia to agree to a peace deal. The conflict, which escalated following Russia’s offensive launched in February 2022, has led to substantial loss of life and the devastation of large portions of eastern and southern Ukraine. Presently, the Russian military controls around one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory, including the Crimean Peninsula, annexed in 2014.
President Zelensky accused Russia of stalling the peace process and expressed concerns regarding its lack of commitment to cease hostilities.
“They will constantly look for reasons not to end the war,” he remarked during a press conference in Berlin alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, criticizing Russia for failing to agree on a location for the next round of negotiations.
Additionally, President Zelensky urged allies to consider inviting Ukraine to a NATO summit in June, warning that failing to do so would signify a victory for Russia.
Chancellor Merz announced Germany’s commitment to assist Ukraine in developing new long-range weaponry capable of striking targets within Russian territory. Specific details, however, were not disclosed. The Kremlin responded by claiming that Germany’s support to Ukraine would disrupt peace efforts.
On the battlefield, President Zelensky reported that Russia is amassing over 50,000 troops along the northeastern Sumy border region, where the Russian army has successfully captured several settlements in pursuit of establishing what Mr. Putin refers to as a “buffer zone” within Ukrainian borders.
Recent reports indicate that the Russian army has also captured another village in the Sumy region, underscoring the ongoing conflict’s intensity.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
