Moscow and Kiev are back at the negotiating table: an important round is expected in Istanbul

The date for the next round of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine after a long break has been set. Kremlin officials have proposed holding the second round of talks between the two sides in Istanbul on June 2, and it is believed that this proposal has been practically accepted by Kiev.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow is ready to present a memorandum on the terms of peace and provide the necessary explanations during the talks. The delegation for the talks will be headed by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, as before.

“1000 by 1000” format: historic exchanges

It should be recalled that the previous talks were held in Istanbul on May 16. At this meeting, after a three-year break, the parties discussed the exchange of prisoners, ceasefire demands, and the conditions for preparing for further dialogue. As part of this process, the largest exchange of prisoners of war in history took place on May 23-25. Hundreds of military personnel and civilians were exchanged over several days.

A troubled history: why did the 2022 talks fail?

The background to these talks goes back to the talks held in various countries during the first months of the war in 2022. Although the talks, which began in Belarus and then continued in Turkey, were initially seen by the speakers as an opportunity to end the brutal war, in practice the talks stalled due to a lack of political will and the rapidly changing situation on the front. Kiev at that time expressed its readiness to withdraw from NATO and discuss the status of a neutral state, but the position of Western countries, especially the US and Britain under the leadership of Joe Biden and Boris Johnson, was said to be an obstacle to peace.

A new page in 2025 - Trump and the return to negotiations

After Donald Trump returned to power in the US in 2025, Washington's attitude towards the war changed. The Trump administration is putting heavy pressure on Ukraine and trying to bring it back to negotiations. At the same time, Trump's recent criticism of Vladimir Putin and the two-week deadline have caused serious discussions on the international political scene.

New negotiations, new reality

The current situation is different from the previous one. Given Russia's strategic advantage on the front, it is felt that it is in no hurry to stop the war. However, the start of negotiations in itself is an important signal for diplomacy. Especially if the memorandums are formed at the meeting in Istanbul and there is a chance to reach a joint compromise.

The content of the memorandum has not yet been made public. However, according to a source in The New York Times, the Ukrainian side is putting forward conditions that include disarmament, a ceasefire and international control mechanisms. Russia has not yet openly agreed to these conditions.