Latest news with #Sybiha
Yomiuri Shimbun
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Ukraine Says It's Ready to Resume Talks with Russia but Needs Clarity on Kremlin's Terms
The Associated Press In this photo taken on May 27, 2025 and provided by Ukraine's 24th Mechanized Brigade press service, a soldier prepares a 120mm mortar to fire towards Russian army positions near Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Tuesday, May 27, 2025 KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine is ready to resume direct peace talks with Russia in Istanbul on Monday, a top adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, following days of uncertainty over whether Kyiv would attend a further meeting proposed by Moscow. But Ukrainian officials have insisted that the Kremlin provide a promised memorandum setting out its position on ending the more than three-year war, before the two delegations sit down to negotiate. 'Ukraine is ready to attend the next meeting, but we want to engage in a constructive discussion,' Andrii Yermak said in a statement on the website of Ukraine's Presidential Office late Thursday. 'This means it is important to receive Russia's draft. There is enough time – four days are sufficient for preparing and sending the documents,' Yermak said. Ukraine and its European allies have repeatedly accused the Kremlin of dragging its feet in peace efforts, while it tries to press its bigger army's battlefield initiative and capture more Ukrainian land. Kyiv's Western partners, including the U.S., are urging Moscow to agree to an unconditional ceasefire, something Kyiv has embraced while the Kremlin has held out for terms more to its liking. Ukraine's top diplomat, Andrii Sybiha, also told reporters on Friday that Kyiv is waiting for Russia to clarify its proposals ahead of a next round of talks. 'We want to end this war this year. We are interested in establishing a ceasefire, whether it is for 30 days, 50 days, or 100 days. Ukraine is open to discussing this directly with Russia,' Sybiha said at a joint news conference in Kyiv with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan. Sybiha and Fidan also held the door open to a future meeting between Presidents Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin of Russia, possibly also including U.S. President Donald Trump. Fidan said the ongoing peace push in Istanbul could be 'crowned with' such a meeting. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday told reporters that a Russian delegation will head to Istanbul and stand ready to take part in the second round of talks on June 2. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday publicly invited Ukraine to hold direct negotiations with Moscow on that date. In a video statement, Lavrov said Russia would use Monday's meeting to deliver an outline of Moscow's position on 'reliably overcoming' what it calls the root causes of the war. Russian officials have said for weeks that such a document is forthcoming. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov on Wednesday said that Ukraine isn't opposed to further direct talks with Russia, but that they would be 'empty' if Moscow were to fail to clarify its terms. Umerov said he had personally handed a document setting out Ukraine's position to the Russian side. Low-level delegations from Russia and Ukraine held their first direct peace talks in three years in Istanbul on May 16. The talks, which lasted two hours, brought no significant breakthrough, although both sides agreed to the largest prisoner exchange of the war. It was carried out last weekend and freed 1,000 captives on each side. Fidan on Friday voiced a belief that the successful swap has 'proved that negotiations can yield concrete results.' 'There are two paths in front of us. Either we will turn a blind eye to the continuation of the war, or we will reach a lasting peace within the end of the year,' he told reporters in Kyiv.
Dubai Eye
2 days ago
- Politics
- Dubai Eye
Ukraine yet to give decision on taking part in Istanbul talks
Ukraine wants to see a document setting out Russia's proposals for a peace deal before it sends a delegation to Istanbul for bilateral talks, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Friday. Russia has proposed that negotiators from the two sides meet in Istanbul on June 2, but Kyiv has said it needs reassurances that Moscow is sincere about wanting to end the war. Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, made the proposal after US President Donald Trump urged Moscow and Kyiv to work together on a peace deal. Expectations for the talks are modest because the positions staked out so far by the two sides are far apart and work between them has yet to begin in earnest on narrowing the gap. At a joint news conference in Kyiv on Friday with visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Sybiha stopped short of confirming that Ukraine would take part in the Istanbul talks. "In order for the next planned meeting to be substantive and meaningful, it is important to receive a document in advance so that the delegation that will attend has the authority to discuss the relevant positions," Sybiha said. He said that, to date, Ukraine had not received the memorandum it was expecting from Russian negotiators containing their proposals for discussion in Istanbul. Sybiha did not spell out what Kyiv would do if it did not receive the Russian document, or set out a deadline for receiving it. "We want to end this war this year, and we are interested in establishing a truce, whether it is for 30 days, or for 50 days, or for 100 days," Sybiha said. "Ukraine is open to discussing this directly with Russia. We confirmed this during the last meeting of our delegations with the Russian side." US PRESSURE Speaking to US network ABC, Trump envoy Keith Kellogg indicated he was expecting that the June 2 bilateral talks in Istanbul would go ahead. Both Kyiv and Moscow are keen to demonstrate to Trump that they are on board with his efforts to end the conflict. Kyiv is seeking more US military aid, while Moscow hopes he will ease economic sanctions on Russia. Russia has said its delegation at the Istanbul talks will be led by Vladimir Medinsky, a Kremlin aide who led the Russian team for a previous round of talks in the Turkish city on May 16. Those talks produced no breakthrough. Turkey's Fidan, who earlier this week visited Moscow, said on Friday his country stood ready to host another round of talks between Russia and Ukraine. "This is our view: as long as (the sides) remain at the negotiating table, progress can surely be seen," he told the news conference. If the talks go ahead in Istanbul, the next step would be to try to host a meeting between Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he added.
MTV Lebanon
3 days ago
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
Ukraine Yet to Decide on Participation in Istanbul Talks
Ukraine wants to see a document setting out Russia's proposals for a peace deal before it sends a delegation to Istanbul for bilateral talks, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Friday. Russia has proposed that negotiators from the two sides meet in Istanbul on June 2, but Kyiv has said it needs reassurances that Moscow is sincere about wanting to end the war. Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, made the proposal after U.S. President Donald Trump urged Moscow and Kyiv to work together on a peace deal. Expectations for the talks are modest because the positions staked out so far by the two sides are far apart and work between them has yet to begin in earnest on narrowing the gap. At a joint news conference in Kyiv on Friday with visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Sybiha stopped short of confirming that Ukraine would take part in the Istanbul talks. "In order for the next planned meeting to be substantive and meaningful, it is important to receive a document in advance so that the delegation that will attend has the authority to discuss the relevant positions," Sybiha said. He said that, to date, Ukraine had not received the memorandum it was expecting from Russian negotiators containing their proposals for discussion in Istanbul. Sybiha did not spell out what Kyiv would do if it did not receive the Russian document, or set out a deadline for receiving it. "We want to end this war this year, and we are interested in establishing a truce, whether it is for 30 days, or for 50 days, or for 100 days," Sybiha said. "Ukraine is open to discussing this directly with Russia. We confirmed this during the last meeting of our delegations with the Russian side."
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Ukraine says it's ready to resume talks with Russia but needs clarity on Kremlin's terms
'This means it is important to receive Russia's draft. There is enough time – four days are sufficient for preparing and sending the documents,' Yermak said. Ukraine and its European allies have repeatedly accused the Kremlin of dragging its feet in peace efforts, while it tries to press its bigger army's battlefield initiative and capture more Ukrainian land. Kyiv's Western partners, including the U.S., are urging Moscow to agree to an unconditional ceasefire, something Kyiv has embraced while the Kremlin has held out for terms more to its liking. Advertisement Ukraine's top diplomat, Andrii Sybiha, also told reporters on Friday that Kyiv is waiting for Russia to clarify its proposals ahead of a next round of talks. 'We want to end this war this year. We are interested in establishing a ceasefire, whether it is for 30 days, 50 days, or 100 days. Ukraine is open to discussing this directly with Russia,' Sybiha said at a joint news conference in Kyiv with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan. Advertisement Sybiha and Fidan also held the door open to a future meeting between Presidents Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin of Russia, possibly also including U.S. President Donald Trump. Fidan said the ongoing peace push in Istanbul could be 'crowned with' such a meeting. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday told reporters that a Russian delegation will head to Istanbul and stand ready to take part in the second round of talks on June 2. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday publicly invited Ukraine to hold direct negotiations with Moscow on that date. In a video statement, Lavrov said Russia would use Monday's meeting to deliver an outline of Moscow's position on 'reliably overcoming' what it calls the root causes of the war. Russian officials have said for weeks that such a document is forthcoming. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov on Wednesday said that Ukraine isn't opposed to further direct talks with Russia, but that they would be 'empty' if Moscow were to fail to clarify its terms. Umerov said he had personally handed a document setting out Ukraine's position to the Russian side. Low-level delegations from Russia and Ukraine held their first direct peace talks in three years in Istanbul on May 16. The talks, which lasted two hours, brought no significant breakthrough, although both sides agreed to the largest prisoner exchange of the war. It was carried out last weekend and freed 1,000 captives on each side. Fidan on Friday voiced a belief that the successful swap has 'proved that negotiations can yield concrete results.' 'There are two paths in front of us. Either we will turn a blind eye to the continuation of the war, or we will reach a lasting peace within the end of the year,' he told reporters in Kyiv. Advertisement Associated Press writers Hanna Arhirova and Illia Novikov in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, contributed to this report.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ukraine's foreign minister calls for sanctions after Russia's UN threats
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has called for a strong response to a statement by Russia's UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya, who has declared that Moscow intends to fight "as long as necessary". Source: Sybiha on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: Sybiha drew attention to statements made by Nebenzya at a UN Security Council meeting, where he affirmed Russia's intention "to continue and step up military activities as long as necessary". "When the entire world insists that it is time to stop the killing immediately and engage in meaningful diplomacy, Russia uses the highest fora to spew such belligerent rhetoric," the Ukrainian foreign minister said. Sybiha called Nebenzya's words a "slap in the face to all who advocate for peace. Not just Ukraine but also the United States, European countries, China, Brazil, and others". "We demand a response to Russia's arrogant statements, which undermine the peace process," Sybiha emphasised. "We insist that the pressure on Moscow be increased already now. They do not understand normal attitude or diplomatic language; it is time to speak to them in the language of sanctions and increased support for Ukraine." Background: On Friday 30 May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the United States, European countries and all allies to show greater resolve in confronting Russian aggression after another night of Russian attacks, particularly on Kharkiv. Amid recent Russian statements and increased aerial terror against Ukraine, US President Donald Trump has said he is considering additional sanctions against Russia. Yet Trump said recently that he is refraining from imposing sanctions on Russia because he believes it could "screw up" the making of a "deal". Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
