Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on May 23 that Moscow will convey its peace terms to Kyiv immediately after completing a prisoner exchange between the two countries. The prisoner exchange, currently ongoing, started on May 23 and will continue through May 25.
Lavrov stated that Russia is “actively working” on a list of ceasefire conditions for the war in Ukraine, which will be ready as soon as the prisoner exchange is completed. This comes after tumultuous negotiations in Istanbul on May 16, where Ukraine and Russia agreed to an initial prisoner exchange of 390 each, with additional swaps planned for May 24.
The two countries also agreed to exchange documents detailing their ceasefire conditions. However, the terms Moscow has offered are maximalist, including Ukraine’s acceptance of Crimea and four eastern regions. Kremlin officials clarified that a separate memorandum regarding a potential future peace treaty is being prepared, which is distinct from the list of ceasefire conditions currently under preparation.
Lavrov insisted that Russia is not interested in a ceasefire in Ukraine, citing the need to resolve the “root causes” of the war first. A recent US intelligence report confirmed Russia’s commitment to waging war through 2025 and its unchanged objectives – Ukrainian neutrality and partition of the state. This suggests that Moscow is unwilling to negotiate in good faith despite sharing its list of ceasefire terms after the prisoner exchange.
Source: https://kyivindependent.com/russia-will-reveal-peace-terms-to-ukraine-after-prisoner-exchange-lavrov-says