Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov has been appointed as the head of the Ukrainian delegation for the negotiations scheduled to take place in Istanbul on Monday, June 2. This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who emphasized the importance of preparing key positions ahead of the meeting and identifying priority tasks for the delegation.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Main Objectives of the Ukrainian Side in the Negotiations
According to the president, the Ukrainian delegation has clear objectives: complete and unconditional ceasefire, release of all prisoners, and return of abducted children. Additionally, Ukraine insists on preparing for negotiations at the highest level to achieve a reliable and lasting peace and ensure the security of the state.
“First – complete and unconditional ceasefire. Second – release of prisoners. Third – return of abducted children. And to establish reliable and lasting peace and guarantee security, we must prepare for a meeting at the highest level. Key issues can only be resolved by leaders. Our delegation will be led by Rustem Umerov on Monday,” he wrote.
Russia’s Position and Kyiv’s Reaction
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced the initiative to hold a second round of negotiations in Istanbul, where the Russian side will be represented by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky. According to him, a memorandum regarding the peace treaty has already been prepared, which they plan to present to the Ukrainian delegation.
At the same time, the Kremlin refused to provide Ukraine with its conditions before the start of the negotiations, which drew criticism from Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that such actions indicate the Kremlin’s desire to make the negotiations formal and unproductive. Despite this, the Ukrainian side confirmed its readiness for dialogue, insisting on thorough preparation for the upcoming meeting.
U.S. President Donald Trump also expressed his position on the prospects for peace negotiations. He stated that within two weeks it will become clear whether Vladimir Putin truly intends to end the war against Ukraine. In Trump’s opinion, Russia shows some willingness to reach an agreement, but the final decision will only be known after the relevant documents are signed.