Moscow shares update on Ukraine peace memorandum
Russia is continuing work on a draft memorandum outlining the principles and timing of a potential future peace treaty with Ukraine, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said.
Earlier this month in Istanbul, Russia and Ukraine held their first direct peace talks in three years. The delegations agreed to draft memorandums outlining their proposals for a peace settlement and announced a record 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange.
'Russia continues to develop a draft memorandum on a future peace treaty, defining a number of positions, such as the principles of settlement, the timing of a possible peace agreement, and a potential ceasefire for a certain period of time, if appropriate agreements are reached,' Zakharova said at a press briefing on Tuesday. According to the spokeswoman, the document will be handed over to Kiev as soon as it is finalized.
'We expect that the Ukrainian side is conducting similar work and will send us its proposals simultaneously with the receipt of the Russian document,' Zakharova said.
The spokeswoman noted, however, that Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has been undermining the peace efforts with 'destructive statements.'
'Instead of seeing and hearing those who are trying to focus on at least some kind of constructive approach [he] is trying to… shift the blame for prolonging the conflict to Russia, while begging for more weapons every day and demanding tougher anti-Russian sanctions,' she noted. According to the official, Zelensky is deliberately trying to 'hinder the emerging peace progress.'
'Those who want peace do not make plans on how to supply even more weapons to the region… how to worsen the situation, not allowing those plans or shoots that were planted in Istanbul to grow further,' the diplomat stated, referring to Zelensky's Western backers.
Zelensky mocked the Russian delegation in Istanbul, calling it 'weak and unprepared' and raising doubts about its decision-making powers. He accused the US, which has been mediating the peace process, of a lack of support for Kiev, which he claimed benefits Russia. This latest allegation sparked criticism from US President Donald Trump, who said that Zelensky 'is doing his country no favors by talking the way he does' and that 'everything out of his mouth causes problems.'
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday signaled that the Russian draft of the memorandum will likely be ready ahead of the next round of direct Russia-Ukraine talks. He noted, however, that neither a date nor venue for the negotiations has been determined.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
an hour ago
- Russia Today
Second round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks: Live Updates
The second round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks begins in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Monday, on the heels of a fresh wave of dual UAV and missile strikes. Kiev has intensified drone attacks on Russian territory, targeting civilian infrastructure, trains, and military airfields, which Moscow claims are attempts to sabotage negotiations. Just a day before scheduled talks, two bridges collapsed in Russia's Bryansk and Kursk border regions, leading to at least seven deaths and dozens of injured. The incidents were caused by sabotage, according to Russia's Investigative Committee. Later that same day, drones targeted military airfields in Murmansk Region in the country's north, in Ivanovo and Ryazan regions in western Russia, and in Irkutsk Region in Siberia and Amur Region in the Far East. In response to Kiev's raids, Russia has launched several retaliatory strikes targeting Ukraine's defense industry facilities, as well as military assembly points and warehouses. Some military bloggers and analysts suggest that Kiev may have undertaken such actions to demonstrate to its Western supporters that it still has the means to continue fighting Russia, as well as to intimidate the Russian population. On Sunday afternoon, Russia's delegation, led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, arrived in Istanbul. Ukraine's team for the meeting is headed by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. According to Reuters, the delegation from Kiev will propose a 30-day ceasefire, prisoner exchanges (the 'all for all'principle), and the return of Ukrainian children from Russian-held areas, aiming for an eventual meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky. The previous round of Istanbul talks on May 16, the first since 2022, saw 1,000 prisoners exchanged per side. Both parties agreed to draft ceasefire proposals for today's discussion. Last week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov clarified that Putin is open to holding high-level direct talks with Kiev. However, he said this should be preceded by tangible progress in the current negotiations.
Russia Today
4 hours ago
- Russia Today
Seven dead after saboteurs bring down Russian bridge in front of train
A bridge collapsed in front of an oncoming passenger train in Russia's Bryansk Region on Sunday, killing seven people and injuring at least 69 others, the region's governor Alexander Bogomaz has said. While the exact cause of the incident remains unknown, Russian Railways said the bridge pillar collapsed due to 'illegal interference with transport operations.' The newspaper Izvestia cited a source who said the bridge may have been brought down by an explosion. However, emergency services and prosecutors have not confirmed that a blast occurred. Multiple Telegram news channels have suggested that the collapse was likely caused by sabotage. Bogomaz has not yet disclosed the number of victims, saying that "everything necessary is being done to provide assistance" to them. Videos circulating in Telegram show a crushed train carriage with passengers being evacuated through shattered windows, and emergency services responding at the scene. The collapse also reportedly affected vehicles on the bridge, which fell onto the railway below. Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations (MChS) reported that fire and rescue units are actively working at the site of the bridge collapse. 'All necessary assistance is being provided to the victims. Additional MChS forces, emergency rescue equipment, and lighting towers for nighttime operations have been deployed to the area,' the ministry noted in an official statement. Just days earlier, a freight train in Russia's Belgorod Region ran over an explosive device planted under the tracks, causing a powerful blast. According to the governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, the explosion damaged the railway's contact network but caused no casualties. Both Bryansk Region and Belgorod Region border Ukraine and have seen numerous attacks.
Russia Today
9 hours ago
- Russia Today
UK must prepare for direct conflict with Russia
The UK plans to mobilize billions of pounds to bolster its military-industrial base in preparation for a potential conflict with Russia, Defense Secretary John Healey has said. The statement comes ahead of the publication of the government's Strategic Defense Review on Monday. According to the BBC, the report is expected to portray Russia and China as major threats to the UK. The review is expected to allocate £1.5 billion ($2 billion) toward building six new munitions factories. Over the next five years, London will dedicate around £6 billion ($8.08 billion) to manufacturing long-range weapons, including Storm Shadow missiles, Healey told the BBC on Sunday. The missile, developed jointly with France, has reportedly been used by Ukraine to strike civilian targets in Russian territory, according to Moscow. 'This is a message to Moscow as well. This is Britain standing firm – not only strengthening our Armed Forces, but also reinforcing our industrial base. It's part of our readiness to fight, if required,' Healey said. Western support for Ukraine has exposed serious weaknesses in arms production, with British military leaders warning that the UK's weapons stockpiles are dangerously low, the BBC noted. As one of Kiev's strongest backers in Europe, London has provided Ukraine with approximately €15.16 billion ($17.2 billion) in aid, more than two-thirds of which is military support, according to data from Germany's Kiel Institute. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have both advocated for placing Western troops in Ukraine. They have lobbied for a peacekeeping force to be deployed in the event of a full ceasefire. Moscow has repeatedly warned that any NATO troops deployed to Ukraine – even under the designation of peacekeepers – would be treated as legitimate targets. It has also stated that foreign involvement would only escalate the conflict and ultimately fail to prevent Russia from achieving its military objectives.
