Ukraine Pushes for Meaningful Peace Talks Amidst Ongoing Hostilities
Ukraine is emphasizing the importance of having substantive discussions in upcoming peace talks, following the lack of significant progress from recent negotiations held in Istanbul. Reports from the UN commission on Ukraine highlight that Russia's drone attacks in Kherson amount to crimes against humanity, intensifying the urgency for a resolution.
Both nations are gearing up for another meeting aimed at advancing peace negotiations. The last encounter on May 16 ended with a prisoner exchange but yielded no tangible agreements. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Lavrov has put forth a proposal for both delegations to meet again on June 2 in Istanbul. In response, Ukraine's counterpart, Rustem Umerov, has stressed that the meeting should not be unproductive, urging Russia to first present its memorandum detailing their negotiating conditions to ensure that the talks yield real outcomes.
Umerov stated, "We do not oppose more meetings with the Russians and we await their memorandum so that the meeting is not empty and we can truly move towards the end of the war." He added that Ukraine has already provided Moscow with a document outlining its position and that Russian authorities have a few more days to deliver their document ahead of the upcoming meeting.
Russian presidential adviser Vladimir Minsky confirmed that he had reached out to Umerov to discuss the possibility of exchanging draft memorandums concerning a potential ceasefire. This surge in diplomatic efforts coincides with the visit of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to Kiev, where he is slated to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Umerov emphasized the necessity of preparation for these meetings to achieve results. He remarked on the last meeting in Istanbul on May 16, where Russian officials indicated they were unwilling to declare a truce without addressing what they deemed fundamental issues in the conflict.
Umerov noted that increased pressure from European leaders, including US President Donald Trump and President Zelensky, has prompted the Kremlin to propose another meeting after an earlier attempt to delay the process without presenting their conditions, as promised to Trump on May 19.
Despite the efforts, the Ukrainian Defense Minister expressed concerns over continued delays from the Russian side regarding the delivery of their memorandum. Ukraine accuses Russia of seeking to prolong the war, as Russia appears to be gaining ground in the northeastern and eastern regions of Ukraine, consolidating its military initiative on the front lines.
As the situation evolves, both parties remain at a crucial juncture, hoping for negotiations that can lead to a cessation of hostilities and a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
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