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Russia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Russia Today
NYT reports details of Kiev's memorandum
Ukraine's memorandum ahead of the next round of direct negotiations with Russia calls for an internationally observed ceasefire, the New York Times has reported, citing an anonymous senior official. Moscow has consistently maintained that any ceasefire should not be used by Kiev to rearm its forces. The two sides last met for direct talks in Istanbul on May 16, marking the first formal negotiations since 2022. The meeting resulted in the largest prisoner exchange to date, with 1,000 POWs released by each side. The parties also agreed to prepare memorandums outlining their positions on a potential ceasefire ahead of the next meeting. On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov proposed holding follow-up talks on Monday, June 2, again in Istanbul. In an article on Friday, the NYT quoted an unnamed source as saying that the Ukrainian document includes 'provisions for a cease-fire on land, at sea and in the air, with monitoring to be carried out by international partners.' The Ukrainian leadership had previously insisted on a 30-day pause in hostilities as a precondition for negotiations. Russia rejected that scenario, arguing that Kiev would use it to regroup its military. The NYT did not mention the timeframe in Kiev's latest proposal. Speaking on Friday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga accused Moscow of stalling the negotiations by refusing to share its memorandum ahead of the meeting on Monday. That same day, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the document 'will not be made public.' Responding to a similar demand made by Ukrainian defense minister and top negotiator, Rustem Umerov, on Wednesday, Peskov dismissed it as 'unconstructive.' Earlier this week, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova revealed that Moscow's memorandum includes the 'principles of settlement, a timeframe for a potential peace agreement [and] a potential ceasefire for a certain period of time.' Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that for a full ceasefire to be achieved, Ukraine must halt mobilization, stop receiving foreign weapons, and withdraw its forces from the territories that became part of Russia following referendums in 2022. Meanwhile, in an interview with ABC News on Thursday, Keith Kellogg, US President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, urged Kiev to attend the next round of negotiations with Moscow, irrespective of whether or not Russia agrees to share its memorandum beforehand. Speaking of the Ukrainian document, Kellogg said that he had seen it, revealing that the memorandum includes 22 terms which he characterized as 'pretty good' and 'reasonable.'
Russia Today
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukraine wants Putin-Zelensky meeting
Ukraine is interested in Russian President Vladimir Putin having face-to-face talks with Vladimir Zelensky, according to the country's foreign minister, Andrey Sibiga. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov pointed out this past weekend that such a meeting is 'possible,' but only after the negotiators from Moscow and Kiev reach 'certain agreements' regarding the settlement of the Ukraine conflict. Sibiga was asked by Euronews on Tuesday about Kiev's reaction to Pope Leo XIV's offer to host the continuation of talks between Russia and Ukraine at the Vatican. The dialogue restarted after a three-year break in Istanbul, Türkiye last week. 'I can confirm to you that proposals to organize possible contacts, including at the level of leaders, were made by the Vatican,' he replied. Kiev is ready to 'consider potential venues for such a meeting,' the foreign minister said, referring to the possible Putin-Zelensky talks. The Ukrainian leader would also like to get together with US President Donald Trump, Sibiga added. After Putin offered for the sides to engage in unconditional direct talks in Istanbul on May 15, Zelensky said that he would arrive in Türkiye, but insisted that he would only talk with the Russian president, who never voiced an intention to take part in the meeting personally. Zelensky eventually changed his stance on the issue and the talks taking proceeded with a one-day delay, involving a Russian delegation headed by presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky and a Ukrainian team led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. According to Medinsky, the Ukrainians have also asked for a meeting between Putin and Zelensky during the negotiations in Istanbul, with their request being 'taken into account' by Moscow. Following the phone call between Putin and Trump on Monday, the US president claimed that Moscow and Kiev would immediately begin direct negotiations on introducing a ceasefire. Putin, on his part, said that Russia would work with the Ukrainian side to draft a memorandum on a potential future peace treaty that would outline a 'range of provisions,' including the timeline for a potential temporary truce 'should the necessary agreements be reached.'
Russia Today
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Don't listen to NATO
Kiev would have a better chance of resolving the conflict with Russia if it resists malignant NATO influence that impedes peace efforts, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday. Zakharova responded to remarks by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga about the results of the Istanbul meeting, which marked the first direct negotiations between Kiev and Moscow since 2022. The talks resulted in Russia and Ukraine agreeing to a major prisoner swap. The sides also agreed to exchange lists of conditions for a potential ceasefire and discuss a follow-up meeting. 'If we put aside all the Russian nonsense, pseudo-historical statements, provocations, and so on, the bottom line is this: we managed to agree on the return of 1,000 of our people. These are 1,000 happy families. Even for this reason alone, all this made sense,' Sibiga said. 'All 'this,'' Zakharova said, referring to the talks, 'was proposed by Russia – by its president – and implemented by a delegation authorized by the head of state, which Zelensky mocked for a day.' She also noted that, if all the insults are put aside, Sibiga essentially acknowledged that the 'Russian propositions have a certain sense.' 'The main thing is that the citizens of Ukraine should not allow the 'NATO advisers' to lead them off the true path of settlement into the ravine of other people's interests again,' Zakharova warned. Russia and Ukraine held direct peace talks in Istanbul in 2022, shortly after the escalation of the conflict. While the sides initially made progress and reached a tentative agreement – which included a Ukrainian commitment to neutrality – the talks later collapsed after Kiev unilaterally abandoned them. Moscow later claimed the talks were derailed by then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who advised Kiev to continue fighting. While Johnson has denied the accusation, David Arakhamia, who led the Ukrainian delegation at the time, admitted that the ex-prime minister played an influential role in the decision to stop the negotiating process. Since then, Russia has repeatedly accused Western governments of using Ukraine as a 'battering ram' against Russia and pursuing the conflict 'until the last Ukrainian.' It has noted, however, that the US began shifting its approach to the settlement under President Donald Trump.
Russia Today
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukraine claims it's ready for 30-day ceasefire
Ukraine is ready to declare a 30-day 'full unconditional ceasefire' in the conflict with Russia beginning Monday, Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga has said, adding that US President Donald Trump is being kept in the loop regarding ongoing peace efforts. Moscow has said it is open to discussing a truce, but insists that it should also include a halt in Western weapons deliveries to Ukraine. DETAILS TO FOLLOW
Russia Today
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukraine issues ceasefire demand to Russia
Ukraine has criticized Russia's announcement of a three-day ceasefire in May timed to coincide with the celebration of the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazism. Earlier on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a 72-hour ceasefire which will last from midnight on May 7-8 to midnight on May 10-11. It follows a similar unilateral pause during the Easter weekend. 'If Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately,' Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga responded on X. He claimed that the Russian move was not 'real' but rather 'just for a parade.' 'Ukraine is ready to support a lasting, durable, and full ceasefire. And this is what we are constantly proposing, for at least 30 days,' he added. DETAILS TO FOLLOW
