Russia and Ukraine Announce Next Peace Talks in Istanbul Scheduled for June 2

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced on Wednesday that Ukraine is expecting to receive a peace memorandum from Russia on June 2, which could mark a significant step forward in ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict between the two countries. In a statement posted on social media, Umerov emphasized Ukraine's readiness to engage in further talks, stating, "We are not opposed to further meetings with the Russians and are awaiting their memorandum, so that the meeting won't be empty and can truly move us closer to ending the war."

Umerov highlighted that the Russian side has "at least four more days before their departure to provide us with their document for review," underscoring the importance of having concrete proposals on the table at the upcoming negotiations. He also confirmed that Ukraine has already submitted its own position paper to the head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, in advance of the planned discussions.

The announcement follows the milestone meeting between Ukrainian and Russian delegations held in Istanbul on May 16, which marked the first direct talks between the nations since March 2022. These discussions have renewed cautious optimism among observers about the possibility of progress towards a negotiated settlement.

Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov revealed that Russia had proposed holding the next round of negotiations in Istanbul on June 2, expressing hopes that all parties committed to a peaceful resolution would support this initiative. "We hope that all those who are sincerely, and not just in words, interested in the success of the peace process will support holding a new round of direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in Istanbul," Lavrov stated.

Shortly after the proposal was made public, Lavrov spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss Moscow's preparations for the upcoming talks and the implementation of agreements made by Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump on May 19. Lavrov indicated that Moscow is currently finalizing its proposals for the negotiations with Kyiv.

Secretary Rubio reaffirmed the United States' commitment to assisting in de-escalating the conflict, emphasizing the Trump administration's aim to bring the parties closer to an agreement. A statement issued following the call noted, "The parties confirmed their mutual commitment to continuing a constructive and mutually respectful dialogue between the foreign policy departments of Russia and the United States."

With both sides preparing for the next high-profile round of talks in Istanbul and international actors expressing their support, anticipation is building over whether substantive progress can be achieved in the ongoing search for a sustainable peace settlement in the region.