Ukraine War Continuation: Moscow Suggests Negotiations on June 2 in Turkey; Kiev Consents to Stipulations
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to hold a second round of peace talks, tentatively scheduled for June 2 in Istanbul, Turkey. The discussions follow an initial meeting on May 16, during which both sides failed to reach an agreement but committed to an unprecedented prisoner exchange.
The proposed talks will see Russia present a diplomatic note, referred to as a memorandum, outlining its conditions for a lasting peace agreement. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced this during a statement on May 28. Ukraine has agreed to attend these talks, provided Moscow reveals its conditions in advance.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed the presence of his delegation, stating, "We are not opposed to new meetings with the Russians and await their memorandum." He added that Russia has until the day of their departure to provide Ukraine with the document for examination.
In an earlier proposal, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested a trilateral summit with his counterparts, Vladimir Putin, and Donald Trump, to advance peace negotiations. However, Russian authorities dismissed the suggestion, stating that such a meeting should only take place after concrete agreements between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations have been reached.
Ukrainian President Zelensky, during a visit to Berlin to meet the new German Chancellor, accused Russia of hindering peace talks by seeking "reasons not to stop the war." Tensions remain high, with Russia's recent escalation in attacks, including a large-scale aerial assault, raising skepticism about Moscow's commitment to diplomacy.
The outcome of the June 2 talks hinges on whether Russia will present its memorandum ahead of the meeting and engage constructively on the conditions for a peace agreement, including the sequencing of ceasefire and broader negotiations. The United States is involved in the background, with Russian officials reporting communications with US counterparts, but details about these negotiations remain undisclosed.
The European Union is closely monitoring the second round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, scheduled for June 2 in Istanbul, Turkey. Given Russia's recent escalation in war-and-conflicts, the general news surrounding these discussions holds significant importance in the realm of global politics.
