Moscow: Russia has proposed holding the next round of direct peace talks with Ukraine on June 2 in Istanbul, where it plans to formally present a memorandum outlining its vision for ending the ongoing conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced on Wednesday.
Lavrov confirmed that Moscow had completed work on a detailed memorandum addressing what it calls the “root causes” of the war, and is prepared to present it to the Ukrainian delegation during the proposed meeting.
“The Russian side, as agreed, has promptly developed a relevant memorandum which outlines our position on all aspects of overcoming the root causes of the crisis,” Lavrov said.
Medinsky-Led Delegation Ready for Talks
The Russian delegation, led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, is set to travel to Istanbul for the proposed negotiations. Medinsky stated that he had contacted Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov on Wednesday to suggest the meeting date and location.
“Let me emphasize: we are ready, on the spot, to begin an essential, substantive discussion of each point in the proposed package agreement on a potential ceasefire,” Medinsky said in a message posted to Telegram.
He added that Moscow is awaiting a formal response from Ukraine and emphasized Russia’s readiness to engage in face-to-face negotiations in the coming days.
Drafting Paths to Ceasefire
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed that both sides had agreed to prepare their respective visions of a “settlement and ceasefire mechanism.” These documents will be shared and discussed during the upcoming round of talks in Istanbul, if confirmed.
The negotiations, if they proceed, will mark the second round of resumed direct dialogue since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The previous attempt, held earlier this month in Istanbul, was the first formal diplomatic contact between the two countries since March 2022 and ended without a breakthrough.
Trump Pushes for Diplomatic Resolution
The renewed push for talks comes amid growing pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly stated his intention to broker a resolution to the conflict if reelected. Following a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 19, Trump publicly urged both sides to return to the negotiating table and pursue a comprehensive ceasefire agreement.
Shortly after the call, Putin declared that Moscow was willing to engage with Ukraine on a memorandum for peace, signaling a potential diplomatic opening.
Uncertain Outlook
While Moscow’s offer of a draft memorandum suggests renewed diplomatic intent, Ukraine’s response remains unclear. Kyiv has consistently insisted that any settlement must preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity, including the return of regions currently occupied by Russian forces.
Ukrainian officials have also expressed skepticism over Moscow’s peace overtures, accusing the Kremlin of using negotiations as a cover for military consolidation.
Should the June 2 meeting go ahead, it will offer a critical test of both sides’ willingness to engage in substantive diplomacy to bring an end to the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II.
