Ukraine awaiting Russia peace proposal ahead of Istanbul talks
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Ukraine slams Russia for stalling peace talks ahead of planned second meeting
The Kremlin proposed a second Russia-Ukraine meeting in Istanbul on June 2. Moscow will deliver its memo on overcoming the “root causes” of the conflict at Monday’s meeting. Ukraine has not yet definitively committed to joining the June 2 talks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday said Russian President Vladimir Putin was using delaying tactics.
“Russia is prolonging the war and doing everything it can to simply deceive the countries that are still trying to influence Moscow with words rather than pressure,” Zelenskyy said in a video address Thursday. “Words don’t work with Moscow,” he added.
Ukraine has not yet definitively committed to joining the June 2 talks.
Ukrainian officials stressed that seeing Russia’s peace memorandum before the next round of talks is crucial for the meeting to go productively. Russia previously promised to send a list of its negotiating positions but has not done so yet.
Ukrainian officials said they have submitted a memorandum outlining Kyiv’s vision for peace to both the U.S. and Russia. Keith Kellogg, U.S. special envoy to Ukraine, confirmed the receipt of the Ukrainian document, calling it “pretty good” and “reasonable.”
Ukraine awaiting Russia peace proposal ahead of Istanbul talks
Ukraine awaiting Russia peace proposal ahead of Istanbul talks on Monday. First round of talks between low-level Russian and Ukrainian delegations took place earlier this month. Both sides returned hundreds of prisoners in the biggest exchange since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Ukraine has said it remains committed to dialogue but will not send a delegation until it receives details of the Russia’s ceasefire proposal. Moscow says it will only entertain the idea of a high-level summit if meaningful progress is achieved in preliminary discussions between the two countries.
The first round of talks between low-level Russian and Ukrainian delegations took place earlier this month, resulting in both sides returning hundreds of prisoners in the biggest exchange since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Ukraine has said it remains committed to dialogue but will not send a delegation until it receives details of Russia’s ceasefire proposal.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow’s conditions for a temporary truce were being developed and would be discussed in Turkey.
Russia says it will send a delegation to Istanbul on Monday for a second round of peace talks with Ukraine.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine had already sent its own “vision of future steps” to Russia, adding that Moscow “must accept an unconditional ceasefire” to pave the way for broader negotiations.
“We are interested in seeing these meetings continue because we want the war to end this year,” Sybiha said during a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan on Friday.
If the talks do go ahead on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are not expected to attend.
But Fidan said Turkey was hoping to eventually host a high-level summit: “We sincerely think it is time to bring President Trump, President Putin and President Zelensky to the table.”
Peskov said Russia would only entertain the idea of a high-level summit if meaningful progress was achieved in preliminary discussions between the two countries.
He welcomed comments made by Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, retired Gen Keith Kellogg, who described Russian concerns over Nato enlargement as “fair”.
Gen Kellogg said Ukraine joining the military alliance, long-hoped for by Kyiv, was not on the table.
He added that President Trump was “frustrated” by what he described as Russia’s intransigence, but emphasised the need to keep negotiations alive.
On Wednesday, Germany’s new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, told Ukraine’s Zelensky that Berlin would help Kyiv produce long-range missiles to defend itself from future Russian attacks.
The Kremlin said any decision to end range restrictions on the missiles Ukraine could use would represent a dangerous change in policy that would harm efforts to bring an end to the war.
Moscow currently controls 20% of Ukraine’s internationally-recognised territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.
Russia signals readiness for new Ukraine talks as Kyiv accuses Moscow of stalling peace process
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has announced that Moscow is prepared to take part in a second round of negotiations with Ukraine scheduled for June 2. However, Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of deliberately stalling the peace process ahead of the upcoming discussions. Earlier this month, representatives from both nations met in Istanbul for the first time since March 2022, shortly after Russia launched its military invasion of Ukraine. The May 16 talks, held under pressure from US President Donald Trump to end the largest European conflict since World War II, failed to produce a ceasefire agreement.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has announced that Moscow is prepared to take part in a second round of negotiations with Ukraine scheduled for June 2 in Istanbul. However, Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of deliberately stalling the peace process ahead of the upcoming discussions.
Speaking at a joint press briefing in Kyiv with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reaffirmed Ukraine’s willingness to continue talks in Turkey. He added, however, that Kyiv is still awaiting a Russian memorandum outlining a potential ceasefire framework—an item Ukraine expects to receive before the meeting.
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“We are still waiting for the Russian side to deliver the memorandum they promised. It was also pledged to the American side,” Sybiha stated.
Earlier this month, representatives from both nations met in Istanbul for the first time since March 2022, shortly after Russia launched its military invasion of Ukraine. The May 16 talks, held under pressure from US President Donald Trump to end the largest European conflict since World War II, failed to produce a ceasefire agreement despite Kyiv’s appeals and backing from Western nations. Moscow insisted that certain prerequisites must be fulfilled before a ceasefire could be discussed.
Lavrov emphasised in a statement that those who genuinely support the peace process should endorse the continuation of direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul.
Following a phone call with President Trump on May 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed Moscow’s readiness to engage with Ukraine on drafting a memorandum aimed at laying the groundwork for a potential peace deal.
On Wednesday, Vladimir Medinsky, the head of Russia’s negotiation team, posted on Telegram that he had contacted Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov to suggest a time and location for the next session.
“We are ready, right there and then, to begin serious and detailed discussions on all elements of the proposed ceasefire agreement,” Medinsky stated, noting that Russia is now awaiting a formal response from Ukraine.
In a separate comment, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said both countries had agreed to develop and exchange their respective proposals concerning the “modalities of settlement and ceasefire” at the upcoming round of negotiations.
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Ukraine says it’s ready to resume talks with Russia but needs clarity on Kremlin’s terms
Ukraine is ready to resume direct peace talks with Russia in Istanbul on Monday, a top adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. But Ukrainian officials have insisted that the Kremlin provide a promised memorandum setting out its position on ending the more than three-year war. Ukraine and its European allies have repeatedly accused the Kremlin of dragging its feet in peace efforts. The talks, which lasted two hours, brought no significant breakthrough, although both sides agreed to the largest prisoner exchange of the war. The exchange was carried out last weekend and freed 1,000 captives on each side, but no significant progress was made on the peace process until this week, when the two sides held their first direct talks in three years in Istanbul. The next round of talks is scheduled for June 2.. The negotiations could be “crowned with” such a meeting, Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan said.
Associated Press
Kyiv, Ukraine – Ukraine is ready to resume direct peace talks with Russia in Istanbul on Monday, a top adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, following days of uncertainty over whether Kyiv would attend a further meeting proposed by Moscow.
But Ukrainian officials have insisted that the Kremlin provide a promised memorandum setting out its position on ending the more than three-year war, before the two delegations sit down to negotiate.
“Ukraine is ready to attend the next meeting, but we want to engage in a constructive discussion,” Andrii Yermak said in a statement on the website of Ukraine’s Presidential Office late Thursday.
“This means it is important to receive Russia’s draft. There is enough time – four days are sufficient for preparing and sending the documents,” Yermak said.
Ukraine and its European allies have repeatedly accused the Kremlin of dragging its feet in peace efforts, while it tries to press its bigger army’s battlefield initiative and capture more Ukrainian land.
Kyiv’s Western partners, including the U.S., are urging Moscow to agree to an unconditional ceasefire, something Kyiv has embraced while the Kremlin has held out for terms more to its liking.
Ukraine’s top diplomat, Andrii Sybiha, also told reporters on Friday that Kyiv is waiting for Russia to clarify its proposals ahead of a next round of talks.
“We want to end this war this year. We are interested in establishing a ceasefire, whether it is for 30 days, 50 days, or 100 days. Ukraine is open to discussing this directly with Russia,” Sybiha said at a joint news conference in Kyiv with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan.
Sybiha and Fidan also held the door open to a future meeting between Presidents Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin of Russia, possibly also including U.S. President Donald Trump. Fidan said the ongoing peace push in Istanbul could be “crowned with” such a meeting.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday told reporters that a Russian delegation will head to Istanbul and stand ready to take part in the second round of talks on June 2.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday publicly invited Ukraine to hold direct negotiations with Moscow on that date. In a video statement, Lavrov said Russia would use Monday’s meeting to deliver an outline of Moscow’s position on “reliably overcoming” what it calls the root causes of the war. Russian officials have said for weeks that such a document is forthcoming.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov on Wednesday said that Ukraine isn’t opposed to further direct talks with Russia, but that they would be “empty” if Moscow were to fail to clarify its terms. Umerov said he had personally handed a document setting out Ukraine’s position to the Russian side.
Low-level delegations from Russia and Ukraine held their first direct peace talks in three years in Istanbul on May 16. The talks, which lasted two hours, brought no significant breakthrough, although both sides agreed to the largest prisoner exchange of the war. It was carried out last weekend and freed 1,000 captives on each side.
Fidan on Friday voiced a belief that the successful swap has “proved that negotiations can yield concrete results.”
“There are two paths in front of us. Either we will turn a blind eye to the continuation of the war, or we will reach a lasting peace within the end of the year,” he told reporters in Kyiv.
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Associated Press writers Hanna Arhirova and Illia Novikov in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, contributed to this report.
Ukraine awaits Russia’s ‘memorandum’ ahead of Istanbul negotiations
The head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry noted that Kyiv is interested in continuing negotiations with Moscow. Ukraine is also interested in establishing a temporary truce and is ready to discuss this directly with Russia. On May 19, Donald Trump, after a conversation with Vladimir Putin, announced the immediate start of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. However, on May 20, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that there were no timelines for preparing a peace memorandum. On the same day, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan proposed Istanbul as the venue for a new round of talks between Russia and Ukraine. After this, Lavrov stated that the Russian delegation was ready to present their memorandum at the second round of Talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on June 2. He also added that work on the Russian draft memorandum is almost complete.
The head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry noted that Kyiv is interested in continuing negotiations with Moscow, as it wishes to end the full-scale war by the end of the year. Ukraine is also interested in establishing a temporary truce and is ready to discuss this directly with Russia.
“We confirmed this during the last meetings of our delegations with the Russian side. Following the previous meeting in Istanbul, Ukraine has already conveyed to the Russian side its vision of further steps, further peace efforts, including the parameters of a future truce,” Sybiha noted.
He added that Kyiv is also awaiting the prior transfer of its own ‘memorandum’ from Russia to Ukraine and the United States.
“In order for the next planned meeting to be substantive and focused, it is important to receive the document in advance so that the delegation that departs has the authority to discuss the relevant positions,” the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry emphasized.
Sybiha also stated that the next step after possible direct negotiations with the Russian delegation in Istanbul should be preparations for a meeting at the level of leaders.
“The next step is a future meeting of the presidents, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin. We would be glad if this meeting would be in a more expanded format,” said the head of Ukrainian diplomacy.
Ukraine-Russia peace talks: background
On May 16, a trilateral meeting of delegations from Ukraine, the U.S., and Turkey took place in Istanbul, followed by direct negotiations between representatives of Russia and Ukraine. According to Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, the key issues were a prisoner exchange in a “1000 for 1000” format, the possibility of a ceasefire, and a potential meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin.
On May 19, Donald Trump, after a conversation with Vladimir Putin, announced the immediate start of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. However, on May 20, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that there were no timelines for preparing a peace memorandum. Later, on May 22, the Russian Foreign Ministry declared that Volodymyr Zelenskyy does not have the authority to sign a peace memorandum and that Ukraine must elect a new president.
On May 27, U.S. President’s special representative Keith Kellogg announced that Washington had received a document from Ukraine outlining conditions for peace and is now awaiting a memorandum from Russia. He also mentioned a possible location for future negotiations between the parties. On the same day, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan proposed Istanbul as the venue for a new round of talks between Russia and Ukraine.
On May 28, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that an announcement about a new round of talks between the Ukrainian and Russian sides would supposedly be made soon. At the same time, Dmitry Peskov noted that a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy is possible only if concrete agreements are reached. He also added that work on the Russian draft memorandum is almost complete.
On May 28, Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Rustem Umerov had called Putin’s aide, Vladimir Medinsky, but the Ukrainian side still has not received a memorandum from Russia. After this, Lavrov stated that the Russian delegation is ready to present their memorandum at the second round of talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on June 2.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes that the Russian side is delaying the peace process aimed at ending the war.