Russia has proposed a new round of peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on Monday, pledging to present a formal peace memorandum.
Kyiv welcomed the possibility but insisted on reviewing Moscow’s terms in advance, warning that talks must deliver real progress.
The Kremlin’s offer follows the May 16 summit in Istanbul — the first direct talks between the two sides in over three years, which ended without agreement.
Ukraine’s defence minister Rustem Umerov, who led Kyiv’s delegation, said on social media that diplomacy must be “substantive, not symbolic.”
He stressed that Russia has four days to submit its memorandum before the talks, echoing frustration over previous delays and ambiguity.
The conflict, now in its third year, has left tens of thousands dead and devastated Ukraine’s east and south, with Russia occupying roughly 20% of its territory.
U.S. President Donald Trump, mediating the negotiations, voiced disappointment at recent Russian airstrikes during the peace process.
“If I think I’m close to getting a deal, I don’t want to screw it up by doing that,” Trump said, resisting further sanctions for now.
The Kremlin has rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s call for a summit with Trump and Putin, demanding prior concrete agreements.
Russia’s terms reportedly include Ukraine abandoning its NATO aspirations and conceding occupied territories — conditions Kyiv deems unacceptable.
On the ground, hostilities continue unabated, with Ukraine launching one of its largest drone strikes and Russia retaliating with deadly bombardments.
Zelensky accused Moscow of dragging out negotiations while amassing over 50,000 troops near the Sumy region in preparation for a possible new offensive.
“They will constantly look for reasons not to end the war,” Zelensky warned during a joint press conference in Berlin with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.