Russia favors new round of peace talks with Ukraine, highlights gulf between them
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that Kyiv has sent Moscow an offer to hold another round of peace talks this week, and that he wants to speed up negotiations for a ceasefire.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that as soon as there was a definitive understanding of the date for the next round of talks then Moscow would announce it.
'There is our draft memorandum, there is a draft memorandum that has been handed over by the Ukrainian side. There is to be an exchange of views and talks on these two drafts, which are diametrically opposed so far,' Peskov said.
Ukraine and Russia have held two rounds of talks in Istanbul, on May 16 and June 2, that led to the exchange of thousands of prisoners of war and the remains of dead soldiers. But the two sides have made no breakthrough toward a ceasefire or a settlement to end almost three and a half years of war.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
23 minutes ago
- Arab News
Zelensky says ‘mercenaries' from China, Pakistan and other countries fighting for Russia
KYIV: President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that Ukrainian troops in northeastern Ukraine were fighting foreign 'mercenaries' from various countries including China, Pakistan and parts of Africa, and vowed a response. Zelensky has previously accused Moscow of recruiting Chinese fighters for its war effort against Ukraine, charges Beijing denied, while North Korea has also provided thousands of its own troops in Russia's Kursk region. 'We spoke with commanders about the frontline situation, the defense of Vovchansk, and the dynamics of the battles,' Zelensky wrote on X after visiting a frontline area in the northeastern Kharkiv region. 'Our warriors in this sector are reporting the participation of mercenaries from China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and African countries in the war. We will respond.' Reuters contacted the embassies of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan in Kyiv to request comment. Russia did not immediately comment publicly on Zelensky's comments.
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Russia abandons moratorium on deploying short and medium-range missiles
Russia no longer considers itself bound by a moratorium on the deployment of short- and medium-range missiles, the Russian foreign ministry said on Monday. The US withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty in 2019. Russia has said since then it would not deploy such weapons provided that Washington did not do so. However, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov signaled last December that Moscow would have to respond to what he called 'destabilizing actions' by the US and NATO in the strategic sphere. 'Since the situation is developing towards the actual deployment of US-made land-based medium- and short-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, the Russian foreign ministry notes that the conditions for maintaining a unilateral moratorium on the deployment of similar weapons have disappeared,' the ministry said in its statement.
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Netherlands to start NATO's new Ukraine weapons finance scheme with $578 mln payment
The Netherlands will be the first contributor to NATO's new 'Priority Ukraine Requirements List' (PURL) financing mechanism for Ukraine weapons with a 500 million euros ($578 million) payment, the Dutch defense minister said on Monday. 'Ukraine needs more air defense and ammunition now. As the first NATO ally, the Netherlands will deliver a 500 million package of US weapon systems (including Patriot parts and missiles),' Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said in a statement on X. 'This helps Ukraine to defend itself and the rest of Europe against Russian aggression,' he added. In a statement posted on the Dutch defense ministry website, the ministry said that other countries have also pledged financing under the new mechanism. The defense ministry said that under the new scheme, Ukraine can draw on US military equipment stocks if these are funded by NATO allies. The United States is releasing military aid in packages worth approximately $500 million, it said, adding that the packages consist of air defense equipment, ammunition and other essential supplies tailored to Ukraine's needs. US President Donald Trump said last month the US would supply weapons to Ukraine, paid for by European allies, but did not provide details on how this would work. Reuters reported on Friday that NATO countries, Ukraine, and the US were developing a new Ukraine weapons financing mechanism.
