The Kremlin announced on Thursday that it is awaiting confirmation from Ukraine regarding its attendance at the second round of peace negotiations proposed for next week in Turkey.
“As far as I know, there has not been any response yet,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov informed the press. “We need to wait for a reply from the Ukrainian side. Only then can we begin to progress.”
Russian and Ukrainian officials last convened in Istanbul on May 16, marking their first direct discussions since Russia’s extensive invasion commenced. Although both parties reached an agreement for the largest prisoner swap in history, there was no significant advancement towards establishing a widespread ceasefire.
After a call on May 19 with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been advocating for a resolution since his inauguration, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed that Russia was open to collaborating with Ukraine on a “memorandum” detailing the terms for a peace agreement.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated on Wednesday that Moscow was prepared to unveil its proposal during the upcoming Istanbul meeting. However, last week he expressed skepticism about any agreement signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, referring to what Moscow identifies as “issues of legitimacy.”
Putin and other Russian officials have persistently claimed that Zelensky’s presidency is no longer valid, noting that his five-year term technically came to an end in May 2024. However, Ukraine’s constitution prohibits elections during martial law, which has been in effect since Russia’s invasion in 2022.
Chief Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky mentioned late Wednesday that he suggested the date and location for a second round of discussions during a phone conversation with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who responded that Kyiv would consider the proposal.
In a post on X, Umerov indicated that he provided Russia with a memorandum outlining Ukraine’s perspective on a ceasefire agreement and was awaiting Moscow to deliver its own, following the recent completion of the prisoner exchange on Sunday.
“We urge them to fulfill that promise promptly and avoid turning the meeting into a destructive event,” Umerov stated.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha echoed this sentiment, calling on Moscow to present its memorandum “after 10 days of contemplation and attacks.”
“A well-prepared meeting is the only way to potentially yield tangible results,” he remarked.
Earlier this week, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, noted that Washington had received Ukraine’s memorandum and was waiting for Russia’s to “combine the two.”
Peskov told reporters on Thursday that it was “not constructive” to pressure Russia into submitting its proposal, adding, “You need to either confirm your willingness to continue negotiations or take the opposite stance.”
He stated that it was premature to discuss Moscow’s possible actions if Kyiv opts not to attend next week.
Reporting was contributed by AFP.
