Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul's time and location have been disclosed.
Peace Talks Between Russia and Ukraine: The Lowdown on the June 2 Istanbul Summit
Get ready for some high-stakes diplomacy! On June 2, representatives from Russia and Ukraine are scheduled to embark on peace talks in the enchanting city of Istanbul. The tussle is set to kick off at 13:00 local time (yep, that's Moscow time too).
TRT, TASS, and RIA Novosti have all confirmed the news, with the Turkish Foreign Ministry serving as the chief source. Contrasting the almost two-hour meeting that went down on May 16 at the Dolmabahçe Palace, this time around, the conversation will unfold at the luxurious Çırağan Palace, nestled along the Bosphorus shoreline.
According to RBC Group, the Russian delegation, led by Vladimir Medinsky, has already jetted off for Turkey, much like the previous rendezvous. The Ukrainian side, helmed by Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov, will navigate the negotiations from their end.
politics
The agenda for this chatty affair includes a full and unconditional ceasefire, which Ukraine has been pushing for. The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, stressed that resolving key issues can only be possible at a summit level, requiring the heavyweights to take charge. The Kremlin, on the other hand, has hinted at such a meeting occurring following suitable agreements between both countries' delegations, post their analysis of the memorandums exchanged by both parties.
Ukraine had submitted a memorandum variant before the Istanbul meeting, which they've also forwarded to the US. Russia will reportedly present their document, along with fresh proposals for a ceasefire, at the talks.
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The Big Picture:
The upcoming Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul have some key proposal points worth noting. Here's a quick rundown:
Proposed Ceasefire Terms: Russia is advocating for a limited ceasefire of roughly two to three days in specific conflict zones. This would allow military commanders to gather the remains of battlefield casualties. However, Ukraine is pushing for a full and unconditional truce.
Prisoner Exchange: Both sides showed allegiance to exchanging heavily wounded prisoners of war, as well as those under the age of 25.
Return of Fallen Soldiers’ Remains: An understanding was reached that each side would return the remains of 6,000 fallen soldiers.
Child Removal Demands: Ukraine demanded the return of several hundred children they allege were forcibly taken from occupied Ukrainian territory. Russia dismissed this as a mere show for international observers.
Proposed Meeting Between Leaders: Ukraine floated the idea of arranging a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Vladimir Putin within the scope of negotiations.
Ukraine's Conditions for Progress: Ukraine's progress in the talks may depend on Russia backing off from their "maximalist demands," which Kyiv views as a significant hindrance in recent talks.
The upcoming peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul are significant as both sides have proposed and submitted memorandums outlining their positions, with the focus on a full and unconditional ceasefire being one of the key political issues at stake.
The outcome of the talks could potentially see a meeting between the leaders of both nations if Ukraine's conditions for progress, which involve Russia withdrawing from maximalist demands, are met.
