Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized in his evening address on June 1 that the state is ready to defend itself by all available means but remains open to negotiations to end the war.
This is reported by Kyiv24
“We have never wanted this war for a single second. We proposed a ceasefire to the Russians. Since March 11, there has been an American proposal on the table for a complete, unconditional ceasefire. It is the Russians who wanted to continue the war even under conditions where the whole world demands an end to the killings.”
Zelensky called for increased international pressure on Russia, using sanctions and diplomatic means to force it back to constructive dialogue. The President emphasized that Ukraine has repeatedly put forward initiatives for a complete and unconditional ceasefire, but Russia ignores these proposals despite calls from the global community.
Preparation for Negotiations in Istanbul
The President reported that he spent time in a strategic meeting with Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who will lead the Ukrainian delegation at the negotiations in Istanbul. The discussion also included the Foreign Minister, the head of the President’s Office, intelligence leaders, and military commanders. The parties carefully discussed expectations for the meeting scheduled for Monday.
Zelensky stressed that Ukraine insists on a complete, unconditional ceasefire and has prepared all necessary steps that can guarantee a lasting and reliable peace. According to him, Ukraine’s proposal is logical and realistic, and it has been officially communicated to the Russian side.
Positions of the Parties in the Negotiations
The President added that Russia has not yet provided its memorandum to either Ukraine, Turkey, or the United States. Nevertheless, Ukraine seeks to achieve at least partial progress towards peace by working on compromise solutions.
According to Reuters, the Ukrainian side has put forward a number of proposals for negotiations, including the abandonment of the commitment to a neutral status for the country and the non-recognition of the territories occupied by Russia. Meanwhile, the Russian delegation has already arrived in Istanbul for the second round of negotiations, which is set to take place on June 2.
On May 28, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia had prepared a memorandum regarding a potential peace treaty, which will be presented by Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky. However, the Kremlin refused to share its negotiation terms with Ukraine, which drew criticism in Kyiv. Zelensky noted that such a position from Russia indicates an attempt to sabotage real agreements, as negotiations must be carefully prepared to achieve results.