Russia Proposes June 2 Peace Talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, Presenting Memorandum for Discussion

Russia has suggested that the next round of peace negotiations with Ukraine take place on June 2 in Istanbul, stated Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday.

«The Russian side has promptly prepared a relevant memorandum, in line with our agreement, which outlines our stance on all facets of effectively addressing the root causes of the crisis,» he remarked.

Lavrov added that the Russian delegation, led by Vladimir Medinskiy, is prepared to present the memorandum to their Ukrainian counterparts and offer necessary clarifications during the second round of resumed direct discussions in Istanbul next Monday.

Medinskiy noted on the messaging app Telegram that he had reached out to Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov on Wednesday to propose the date and location for the subsequent meeting.

«I want to stress: we are ready to initiate important, substantive discussions on each point of the package agreement concerning a potential ceasefire right there on the spot,» he highlighted.

He expressed anticipation for a response from Ukraine, indicating that Russia’s delegation is ready to meet with their Ukrainian counterparts in the near future.

Additionally, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova mentioned that both Russia and Ukraine had agreed to prepare their visions of the «modalities of settlement and ceasefire» to be discussed and exchanged in the upcoming round of negotiations.

Delegates from both nations convened earlier this month in Istanbul, marking their first meeting since March 2022, under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to resolve the most intense conflict in Europe since World War II. However, the talks did not culminate in a ceasefire agreement.

After a call with Trump on May 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow was willing to collaborate with Ukraine on a memorandum concerning a prospective peace accord.