Russia and Ukraine Announce Next Peace Talks in Istanbul Set 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, signaling a potential step forward in negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. Umerov, who also heads the Ukrainian delegation in talks with Russia, emphasized the importance of this document, 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."

He further detailed that the Russian side has "at least four more days before their departure to provide us with their document for review." According to Umerov, he has already delivered Ukraine’s official position in writing to Vladimir Medinsky, the head of the Russian negotiating team.

This development comes after delegations from both countries met in Istanbul on May 16 for the first direct talks since March 2022. These negotiations, hosted by Türkiye, have rekindled cautious optimism for a diplomatic breakthrough, with both sides exchanging formal positions and discussing key points of contention.

On the same day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov publicly confirmed that Moscow has proposed convening the next round of direct negotiations in Istanbul on June 2. Lavrov expressed hope that all involved parties who are sincere about achieving peace will support the resumption of talks, saying, "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."

Shortly after his statement, Lavrov held a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss the preparations for the upcoming meeting in Istanbul and the implementation of agreements reached between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump on May 19. Lavrov indicated that Russia is finalizing its proposals ahead of next week's negotiations.

During the call, Rubio underlined Washington's commitment to a rapid resolution of the conflict, expressing readiness to play a constructive role in bringing both sides closer together. A statement released afterward indicated that both Moscow and Washington reaffirmed their intention to maintain a "constructive and mutually respectful dialogue" between their respective foreign policy departments.

As the scheduled date for the next round of talks approaches, international attention remains focused on Istanbul. The coming days are expected to be crucial as the sides prepare their positions and documents for what could become a decisive chapter in efforts to secure a lasting peace in the region.