Ukraine Awaits Russian Terms Ahead of Istanbul Peace Talks

Tone & Political Bias: Center

Why: The article presents information from both Ukrainian and Russian perspectives without favoring either side, maintaining a neutral tone.

Ukraine Seeks Clarity Before Resuming Talks

Ukraine has expressed readiness to resume direct peace talks with Russia in Istanbul on Monday. However, Ukrainian officials insist on receiving a promised memorandum from the Kremlin outlining its position on ending the war. Andrii Yermak, a top adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, emphasized the need for constructive discussions, stating that four days are sufficient for Russia to prepare and send the necessary documents.

Russia's Position Remains Unclear

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that a Russian delegation is prepared to participate in the talks on June 2. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov indicated that Russia would use the meeting to present an outline addressing the root causes of the war. Despite these statements, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov expressed concerns that the talks would be “empty” without a clear understanding of Russia’s terms.

Previous Talks Yielded Limited Progress

The first direct peace talks in three years between Russia and Ukraine were held in Istanbul on May 16. While the discussions lasted two hours and resulted in the largest prisoner exchange of the war—freeing 1,000 captives on each side—no significant breakthroughs were achieved regarding a ceasefire or peace agreement.

International Involvement and Future Prospects

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan suggested that the ongoing peace efforts in Istanbul could culminate in a meeting between Presidents Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin, potentially including U.S. President Donald Trump. Fidan emphasized the importance of choosing between continued conflict and achieving lasting peace by the end of the year.

As the scheduled talks approach, the international community watches closely, hoping for concrete steps toward resolving the ongoing conflict.