As Russia signals readiness for fresh peace talks, Ukraine urges immediate delivery of Moscow's memorandum, stressing the need for a productive and result-oriented meeting.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday announced that Russia is prepared to hold the second round of peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on June 2. Speaking via a written statement carried by Russian state media TASS, Lavrov credited the involvement of the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye for helping to create the conditions for the resumption of direct negotiations.
The first round, held on May 16 in Istanbul, led to a mutual prisoner exchange involving 1,000 individuals on each side and resulted in a commitment to prepare position documents for a sustainable resolution. Lavrov noted that Russia has now finalised a memorandum detailing its views on addressing the core causes of the conflict and is prepared to present it during the upcoming talks.
“Our delegation, headed by Vladimir Medinsky, is ready to present this memorandum to the Ukrainian delegation and provide the necessary explanations during the second round in Istanbul next Monday, June 2,” Lavrov said, while also thanking Türkiye for facilitating the negotiations.
Ukraine responded promptly to Russia’s proposal, with Defence Minister Rustem Umerov stating that Kyiv is fully prepared for a complete and unconditional ceasefire and expects Russia to share its memorandum ahead of the next meeting.
“We are not against meetings with the Russians and expect their ‘memorandum’ so that the meeting is not empty and can really bring the end of the war closer,” Umerov posted on social media platform X. He added that delays from Moscow had hindered progress, but pressure from international leaders, including President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, helped push the process forward.
Umerov confirmed that Ukraine had already submitted its own position document and urged Russia to fulfil its promise to deliver its memorandum, cautioning against turning the talks into “a destructive one.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha echoed this stance, questioning the need to wait until Monday. “If the Russians have finally elaborated on their 'memorandum'—after ten days of reflections and attacks—it can be passed to us right away,” he said.
He emphasised that any future dialogue must be well-prepared and meaningful. “Only a well-prepared meeting has the potential to produce tangible results,” Sybiha noted.
The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is intensifying, with fresh strikes near Tehran, European calls for restraint, and Iran threatening to target U.S. fi...
A man previously convicted of spying on Türkiye has been arrested by Turkish and Syrian authorities after more than a decade on the run, Turki...
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum says around 25 kilometres of the TAPI gas pipeline have been laid in Herat province, as work co...
Three Armenian citizens have been charged following an alleged attempt to attack Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at St Anna Cathedral in Yerevan on ...
HHungary’s foreign minister has been drawn into controversy after an audio recording, released by ...
The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is intensifying, with fresh strikes near Tehran, European calls for restraint, and Iran threatening to target U.S. firms in the region, raising fears of a broader escalation across the Middle East.
Three Armenian citizens have been charged following an alleged attempt to attack Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at St Anna Cathedral in Yerevan on 29 March. Analysts say the incident reflects rising tensions between the government and the Church ahead of upcoming elections.
HHungary’s foreign minister has been drawn into controversy after an audio recording, released by an investigative outlet, appeared to show him discussing EU sanctions with his Russian counterpart days before an election that could shape Budapest’s relationship with Moscow, Reuters reports.
China and Kenya have agreed to revive a long-delayed railway project, signalling renewed momentum in infrastructure cooperation and a shift towards more sustainable financing models across Africa.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the U.S is in talks with the new Iranian regime. He said this in a post on his Truth Social account but warned that the U.S. will "Obliterate" Iran's electric and oil facilities if no deal is reached, especially regarding the Strait of Hormuz closure.
NASA is aiming to launch its Artemis 2 mission on Wednesday (1 April), sending astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon, officials confirmed. According to the Space Administration, the launch window is due to open at 23:24 GMT, with additional opportunities to 6 April if delays occur.
The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is intensifying, with fresh strikes near Tehran, European calls for restraint, and Iran threatening to target U.S. firms in the region, raising fears of a broader escalation across the Middle East.
The war in Iran has rapidly upended regional security, triggering spillover across the Middle East and raising fears of wider economic disruption that could threaten globalisation.
The Israeli military said on Monday that Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel, and an attack had also been launched from Yemen for the second time since the U.S.-Israeli war began on Tehran. It said two drones from Yemen were intercepted early 30 March but gave no further details.
A Russia-flagged tanker carrying about 700,000 barrels of crude has arrived in Cuba’s Matanzas Bay, marking the first major oil delivery to the island since the Trump administration cut off its fuel supplies.
China and Kenya have agreed to revive a long-delayed railway project, signalling renewed momentum in infrastructure cooperation and a shift towards more sustainable financing models across Africa.
HHungary’s foreign minister has been drawn into controversy after an audio recording, released by an investigative outlet, appeared to show him discussing EU sanctions with his Russian counterpart days before an election that could shape Budapest’s relationship with Moscow, Reuters reports.
The European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas and several EU foreign ministers arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday to mark the fourth anniversary of the Bucha massacre and to voice their support for Ukraine, amid tensions within the bloc over blocked EU aid.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 31 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment