The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiga, commented on Russia’s proposal to start a new round of negotiations scheduled for June 2. He emphasized that the Ukrainian side is ready to consider the proposals from the Russian Federation right now, without waiting for Monday.
This is reported by Kyiv24
“Why wait for Monday? If the Russians have finally developed their ‘memorandum’ – after ten days of reflection and attacks – it can be handed over to us immediately,” he stated.
Ukraine’s Expectations from the Negotiations
Andrii Sybiga stressed that Ukraine hopes for responsible behavior from the Russian side and adherence to previous agreements regarding the formation of proposals. He urged the Russian Federation not to disrupt the upcoming round of negotiations and to promptly submit its official proposals for consideration by the Ukrainian delegation. According to the minister, only a well-prepared meeting can yield real results for the peace settlement process.
Progress of Negotiations and Positions of the Parties
Recently, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, reported the transfer of a document to the Russian side outlining Ukraine’s official position on the ceasefire. At the same time, according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry on May 28, the Russian side has allegedly completed work on its own memorandum regarding a peace treaty with Ukraine.
On May 16, a meeting took place in Istanbul between representatives of Ukraine and the Russian Federation. Although significant progress was not achieved, the participants agreed on a prisoner exchange in the format of “one thousand for one thousand,” which was completed on May 25.
This is the first round of negotiations in the last three years. The Ukrainian side insists on a 30-day ceasefire as a fundamental condition for negotiations. Meanwhile, Russia continues to demand recognition of its sovereignty over four Ukrainian regions, none of which are fully controlled by its forces. Moscow claims that this demand is a necessary condition for starting discussions on ceasefire issues.
The situation remains tense, and both sides are preparing for the next stage of negotiations, which will determine the further developments on the front and the prospects for a peaceful settlement.