Russia and Ukraine are set to meet again in Istanbul next Monday for a second round of peace talks, but only if the Kremlin produces its promised memorandum of terms for an agreement. The two sides have been engaged in negotiations since March, with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov saying that a meeting is possible pending the receipt of Russian terms.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov proposed the second round of talks on June 2, in Istanbul, and has stated that the Russian side will present its terms to Ukraine. However, Ukraine claims it had already sent its terms to Russia, according to Umerov.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly said that his country is willing to agree to an unconditional ceasefire, but Russia has pushed for lengthy discussions on the “root causes” of the conflict before any cessation of hostilities. The latest round in the peace talks comes as Ukraine and Russia engage in a war of attrition, with both sides suffering heavy losses.
The war of words between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin continues, with each side accusing the other of not taking the negotiations seriously. Zelensky has said that if Russia does not stop its offensives, it will seek to take control of more territory in southeastern Ukraine.
Ukraine and Russia have agreed to a minerals deal that allows the US to profit from its natural resources, but no breakthroughs have been reached on a ceasefire or other key issues. The White House has been pushing for a fast end to the war, but Ukrainian officials are taking steps to challenge Trump’s narrative that Kyiv is prolonging the conflict.
A trilateral summit between Zelensky, Putin, and US President Donald Trump is still on the table, despite some speculation that it may not happen this month. The meeting would be a significant development in the peace talks, but it remains unclear whether all parties are ready to negotiate.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/05/28/zelensky-trump-ukraine-russia-war-sanctions