Russia has proposed holding a new round of peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on June 2, aiming to present a memorandum addressing the ongoing conflict. The Kremlin announced it is awaiting Ukraine’s response to this proposal.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed the proposal, stating that Russia is preparing specific proposals for the upcoming talks. The previous round of negotiations in Istanbul on May 16 failed to produce a ceasefire, with Russia insisting on certain preconditions and Russian President Vladimir Putin refusing to even attend.
Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov indicated that Kyiv has already submitted its version of a peace memorandum and urged Russia to do the same without delay. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticized this approach as “non-constructive.”
President Donald Trump has expressed criticism of the Russian president over the escalating war in Ukraine, warning that he was “playing with fire.” Despite this, Trump has avoided imposing additional sanctions to preserve the possibility of a peace deal.
The proposed peace talks come amid intensified fighting in northeastern Ukraine, particularly in the Sumy region, where Russia has amassed 50,000 troops. The conflict, now in its third year, has resulted in significant casualties and military expenditure for both nations.
Russia’s demands for ending the war include a written pledge from Western powers to halt NATO’s eastward expansion, partial sanctions relief, resolution on frozen Russian assets, Ukrainian neutrality, and protection for Russian-speaking populations. Ukraine and European governments have accused Russia of using negotiations to stall as its forces gain ground.
As the June 2 talks approach, the international community watches closely to see if these negotiations will lead to a sustainable peace settlement. The outcome remains uncertain, with both sides maintaining firm positions and the conflict continuing to exact a heavy toll
