Kremlin Awaits Ukraine Response to Peace Talks Offer

Russia has proposed a new round of direct peace negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul on June 2, but the Kremlin said on Thursday it was still waiting for a formal response from Kyiv. The talks would focus on draft memorandums aiming to address what Moscow calls the "root causes" of the ongoing war.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that no reply had been received from Ukraine. “Here, you have to either confirm your readiness to continue negotiations or do the opposite,” he stated in a firm rebuke of Kyiv’s hesitation.

Ukraine Demands Russia Share Draft Now

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had previously suggested that Russia should immediately hand over its proposed memorandum instead of waiting for the June meeting. Peskov dismissed the idea as “non-constructive.”

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov asserted that Ukraine had already submitted its own version of a settlement memorandum. He urged Moscow to release its counterpart right away, underscoring frustration over what Kyiv sees as unnecessary delays.

Stalemate Persists After Failed May 16 Talks

The call for renewed dialogue comes after the previous round of negotiations on May 16 failed to yield any progress toward a ceasefire. Russia has stated that such an agreement is impossible unless certain preconditions are met—details of which remain unclear.

The new initiative highlights the Kremlin’s attempt to regain diplomatic momentum amid a prolonged conflict and mounting international pressure.