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France 24
2 hours ago
- Politics
- France 24
War in Ukraine: What's in the Russian memorandum?
The short peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul on Monday lasted about an hour and ended with the announcement of a new exchange of prisoners and the return of the bodies of soldiers who died at the front. However, Moscow did release the memorandum that Russian diplomats had been discussing for several weeks. This document publicly sets out Russia's conditions for ending its military offensive and provides an insight into the Kremlin 's war aims as its "special operation" enters its fourth year. Sent to the Ukrainians at the last minute, it was made public by the Russian press agency Tass. Here are the document's main provisions. Terms of settlement: Russian conditions - Signature of an agreement to implement provisions for a final settlement. - International recognition of Crimea, Donbas and 'Novorossia' ("New Russia", a colonisation project developed in the Russian Empire in the 18th century) as part of Russia. - A guarantee that Ukraine ensure the full rights, freedoms and interests of its Russian speakers. - Designating Russian as an official language of Ukraine. - A legislative ban on any glorification or propaganda of Nazism and neo-Nazism. - Lifting of all restrictions on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. - Ukrainian neutrality, meaning: a pledge not to join military alliances or coalitions and a ban on any military activity by third countries in Ukrainian territory and on the deployment of foreign military forces, military bases or military infrastructure there. - A direct ban on the acceptance, transit or deployment of nuclear weapons in Ukraine. - Caps on the strength of the armed forces, weapons and military equipment. - The lifting of all existing sanctions by Ukraine against Russia and a mandatory pledge not to impose new ones. - The waiver of mutual claims with Ukraine in connection with damage caused by hostilities. -The phased restoration of diplomatic and economic relations with Ukraine, including gas transit. Ceasefire Conditions The document gives Ukraine two ceasefire options: Option 1: - The complete withdrawal of the Ukrainian army from the DPR (Donestk oblast), LPR (Luhansk oblast), and the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. - From the moment the Ukrainian military begins to withdraw from Russian territory, including Donbas and 'Novorossia', a 30-day ceasefire will be established. - The withdrawal must be completed within 30 days of the ceasefire. Option 2: - A ban on the redeployment of the Ukrainian armed forces, except for movements for withdrawal to an agreed distance from the borders of Russia. - All Western arms supply to Ukraine shall be halted; the same applies to the provision of intelligence data. - The military presence of third countries in the territory of Ukraine must be excluded. - Participation of foreign specialists in military operations on behalf of Ukraine must be stopped. - Cancellation of martial law by Kyiv. - A bilateral centre for monitoring and controlling the ceasefire is to be established. - Mobilisation is to be halted and demobilisation begun in Ukraine to achieve a ceasefire. - The document also calls for the dissolution of nationalist formations in Ukraine. - Amnesty for political prisoners. - Release of military personnel and civilians. Terms and procedure for signature of the peace treaty - The 'signing of a memorandum on a ceasefire with specific dates for the implementation of all its provisions and the determination of the date for the signing of a future treaty on a final settlement' will take place after Russia has transferred 6,000 bodies of deceased military personnel to Ukraine. - That done, a 30-day ceasefire is to be established. - Next comes "the holding of elections, the formation of authorities on the territory of Ukraine", followed by "the signing of the treaty". - The Ukrainian authorities must announce the date of the presidential and parliamentary elections, due to take place no later than 100 days after the lifting of martial law. - The peace treaty between Russia and Ukraine shall be approved by a legally binding resolution of the UN Security Council.
The Herald Scotland
17 hours ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Putin tells new pope that Ukraine is bent on escalating conflict
"Gratitude was expressed to the Pontiff for his readiness to help settle the crisis, in particular the Vatican's participation in resolving difficult humanitarian issues on a depoliticised basis," the statement said. Putin highlighted "that the Kyiv regime is banking on escalating the conflict and is carrying out sabotage against civilian infrastructure sites on Russian territory," the statement said, describing those acts as terrorism. The Kremlin restated that the conflict's "root causes" must be addressed, a reference to Russian demands that Ukraine adopt a neutral status and NATO rule out eastward expansion. Russia has sought to cultivate good ties with the new pope and his predecessor, Francis, especially on humanitarian issues, like family reunifications. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other officials have said the Vatican is not a suitable site for peace talks between two largely Orthodox Christian countries. The Kremlin noted progress at direct talks this week with Ukrainian negotiators on exchanging prisoners and returning the remains of servicemen. The Russian statement expressed hope the Vatican would "take a more active role" in calling for freedom of religion in Ukraine for members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church that has historic links to Russia. Ukrainian authorities have launched criminal proceedings against many of its clergy because of suspected sympathies for Moscow. A Kyiv-based Ukrainian Orthodox Church has grown larger in Ukraine during the war.
India Today
a day ago
- Politics
- India Today
Putin thanks Pope Leo for peace efforts in Ukraine, accuses Kyiv of escalating conflict
In a recent telephone conversation, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude to Pope Leo for the Vatican's willingness to assist in resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the Kremlin announced to the Kremlin's statement, the call, whose date was not disclosed, centered on humanitarian concerns and efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the war. Putin thanked the Pontiff for the Vatican's "readiness to help settle the crisis," particularly in addressing humanitarian issues on a neutral and depoliticized the discussion, Putin accused Ukraine's leadership of intentionally intensifying the conflict. He alleged that Kyiv is "banking on escalating the conflict" and engaging in acts of sabotage against civilian infrastructure on Russian soil, labeling such actions as terrorism. The Russian president reiterated Moscow's longstanding demands that Ukraine commit to neutrality and that NATO abandon further eastward expansion, citing these as the 'root causes' of the US President Donald Trump previously claimed the Pope offered the Vatican as a venue for Russia-Ukraine negotiations, Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, have dismissed the Vatican as a suitable site, citing the predominantly Orthodox Christian identities of both the Kremlin acknowledged progress in recent direct negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian officials, specifically in areas such as prisoner exchanges and the return of servicemen's Russian side also expressed hope that the Vatican would advocate more strongly for religious freedoms in Ukraine, referencing actions by Ukrainian authorities against clergy affiliated with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church historically linked to has launched legal proceedings against several clergy members over alleged pro-Russian sympathies, while an independent, Kyiv-based Orthodox Church continues to grow in inputs from ReutersMust Watch
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Putin tells new pope Kyiv seeks to escalate war, urges Vatican support for Moscow-linked church in Ukraine
Russia wants the Vatican to "take a more active role" in advocating for what it described as freedom of religion in Ukraine, specifically for members of the Moscow-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Kremlin said in a statement on June 4 following recent diplomatic contacts. Russia's war and occupation of large swaths of Ukraine have led to hundreds of churches being damaged or destroyed, dozens of priests killed or kidnapped, and entire religious groups that don't conform to Moscow's brand of Orthodoxy being banned - all while promoting the Kremlin-controlled Russian Orthodox Church. Sixty-seven clergy members of various faiths have been killed between the start of Russia's all-out war in 2022 and February 2025, the Foreign Ministry said in April, citing the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance. Moscow has also been suppressing independent Ukrainian churches and other religions, including the autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the Roman Catholic Church, Protestant and Muslim groups, and Jehovah's Witnesses, according to Ukrainian officials. Putin also noted that "that the Kyiv regime is banking on escalating the conflict and is carrying out sabotage against civilian infrastructure sites on Russian territory," the statement read. The Kremlin also expressed gratitude to the Pope for the Vatican's readiness to assist in resolving what it called the "crisis" (referring to Russia's war against Ukraine) particularly on humanitarian issues handled "on a depoliticised basis." Putin also reportedly noted a progress in recent direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials regarding prisoner exchanges and the return of fallen soldiers' bodies. The Kyiv Independent's "No God but Theirs" examines the systematic persecution of Ukrainian Christians in Melitopol — a city in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Oblast, occupied by Russia since February 2022. The film details how both Protestant and Catholic churches were banned and dispossessed of all property by occupying Russian forces. Clergy were either deported or compelled to flee under threat, while others were falsely accused by Russian propaganda of storing weapons and ammunition. As a result, many members of the religious community were forced to practice their faith in secrecy. The Kyiv Independent spoke with four Christian leaders from Melitopol: Bishop Dmytro Bodyu of the Pentecostal Church "Word of Life," Father Oleksandr Bohomaz of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and Pastors Mykhailo Brytsyn and Ihor Ivashchuk of the Baptist Church "Grace" whose testimonies provide new details of Russia's targeted repression of Ukrainian Christians. Watch more here: We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Japan Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Japan Today
Putin tells pope that Ukraine bent on escalating conflict
Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked Pope Leo for offering to help settle the Ukraine conflict and told him Kyiv is intent on "escalating" the war, the Kremlin said on Wednesday. A Kremlin statement said they spoke by phone but did not give a date. U.S. President Donald Trump has said the pope offered to host Russia-Ukraine negotiations at the Vatican. "Gratitude was expressed to the Pontiff for his readiness to help settle the crisis, in particular the Vatican's participation in resolving difficult humanitarian issues on a depoliticised basis," the statement said. Putin highlighted "that the Kyiv regime is banking on escalating the conflict and is carrying out sabotage against civilian infrastructure sites on Russian territory," the statement said, describing those acts as terrorism. The Kremlin restated that the conflict's "root causes" must be addressed, a reference to Russian demands that Ukraine adopt a neutral status and NATO rule out eastward expansion. Russia has sought to cultivate good ties with the new pope and his predecessor, Francis, especially on humanitarian issues, like family reunifications. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other officials have said the Vatican is not a suitable site for peace talks between two largely Orthodox Christian countries. The Kremlin noted progress at direct talks this week with Ukrainian negotiators on exchanging prisoners and returning the remains of servicemen. The Russian statement expressed hope the Vatican would "take a more active role" in calling for freedom of religion in Ukraine for members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church that has historic links to Russia. Ukrainian authorities have launched criminal proceedings against many of its clergy because of suspected sympathies for Moscow. A Kyiv-based Ukrainian Orthodox Church has grown larger in Ukraine during the war. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
