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Moscow Seeks Fresh Peace Talks with Ukraine
Image: Ukrainian troops from the 55th Separate Artillery Brigade operate a Caesar self-propelled howitzer against Russian forces near Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, on May 31, 2023. — Reuters
MOSCOW: Russia has proposed new peace discussions with Ukraine scheduled for next Monday in Istanbul. However, Ukraine insists it wants to review Russia’s peace proposal in written form before agreeing to participate in any negotiations.
Kyiv emphasizes that any upcoming talks must be substantial and yield meaningful results rather than leading to further delays.
This call for dialogue comes as the conflict enters its third year with no indication of a ceasefire in sight.
In recent months, diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the three-year-old conflict have intensified. Still, Moscow has consistently dismissed calls for an unconditional ceasefire and remains steadfast in its maximalist demands.
The last meeting between both parties took place in Istanbul on May 16—their first direct engagement in over three years—but this session did not result in any significant breakthroughs.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been advocating for a peace settlement, expressed frustration over Moscow’s apparent stalling tactics and indicated that he would decide within "about two weeks" whether he considers Vladimir Putin serious about ceasing hostilities.
Ukraine stated that it had already submitted its peace prerequisites to Russia and urged Moscow to reciprocate.
"We’re open to further discussions with the Russians and are waiting for their memorandum," said Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who represented Kyiv during the last negotiations, in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
"The Russian side has at least four more days before their departure to provide us with their document for review. Diplomacy needs to be substantive, and the next meeting must produce results."
The invasion by Russia, which began in February 2022, has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties and devastated large areas of eastern and southern Ukraine. Currently, the Russian military controls about one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory, including the Crimean peninsula, annexed in 2014.
‘Very Disappointed’
Russia has announced its intention to present a "memorandum" detailing its peace terms during the upcoming talks and indicated that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has briefed U.S. counterpart Marco Rubio about the proposal.
"Our delegation, led by Vladimir Medinsky, is prepared to present this memorandum to the Ukrainian delegation and provide necessary clarifications during the second round of direct talks in Istanbul on Monday, June 2," Lavrov stated in a video message.
Medinsky, a former culture minister and political scientist, had led Russia’s negotiating team at the May 16 discussions.
In recent weeks, both sides have engaged in intense aerial assaults. Ukraine conducted one of its largest drone strikes against Russia, while Moscow relentlessly bombarded Ukrainian cities with missile strikes over the weekend.
Trump conveyed his "deep disappointment" regarding Russia’s lethal attacks amid peace efforts but refrained from imposing further sanctions on Moscow. "If I believe I’m close to a deal, I don’t want to jeopardize it," he stated.
The Kremlin has dismissed a proposal from Ukrainian President Zelensky for a tripartite summit involving Trump and Putin. Moscow maintains that any meeting between President Putin and Zelensky would occur only after "concrete agreements" are established between negotiators from both sides.
For those peace negotiations to advance, the Kremlin insists that Ukraine must relinquish its ambitions to join NATO and surrender territory that is already under Russian control—a condition Kyiv has deemed unacceptable.
Russia Seeking Justifications
The prior talks in Istanbul earlier this month resulted in a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange, and both nations agreed to pursue peace proposals. However, Russia has continued its bombardment of Ukraine and has refused to consider a ceasefire.
Zelensky accused Russia on Wednesday of intentionally dragging out the peace process, demonstrating no genuine interest in halting the conflict. "They will continually seek excuses not to end the war," he remarked during a press conference in Berlin alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
On the battlefield, Zelensky asserted that Russia is gathering over 50,000 troops near the front line in the northeastern Sumy border region, where Russian forces have captured several towns in what Putin refers to as a "buffer zone" within Ukrainian territory.
This version ensures clarity, adheres to American English norms, and maintains originality while capturing the essence of the original text.
