Kyiv demands prior access to Russia’s memorandum ahead of Istanbul meeting, while Moscow calls for legally binding guarantees for a lasting ceasefire
Soldecanarias.net
Amid a new wave of drone strikes and a buildup of Russian troops along Ukraine’s northern border, the Kremlin has proposed a second round of direct talks with Kyiv, scheduled for Monday, June 2, in Istanbul. The initiative, aimed at delivering a memorandum outlining Russia’s conditions for a ceasefire, has been met with caution by Ukrainian authorities.
Ukraine’s Defense Minister, Rustem Umerov, responded by demanding that the Kremlin submit the document in advance so it can be reviewed before the meeting. “We are not opposed to further talks, but we want to ensure the meeting isn’t merely symbolic. It’s crucial that the discussion is based on concrete proposals,” Umerov stated on the social platform X.
Kyiv’s request comes during a tense military escalation. Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian air defenses neutralized 56 Shahed attack drones launched by Russia, while Moscow reported intercepting 48 Ukrainian drones, 30 of them over the Belgorod region. Ukrainian officials also warned of a significant Russian military buildup in the Kursk region, suggesting preparations for renewed offensives on the border region of Sumy.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Foreign Ministry informed state agency TASS that its proposed peace conditions would include legally binding guarantees to ensure the conflict is not reignited in the future, emphasizing Moscow’s desire for a stable and enforceable peace.
The United States is also engaging diplomatically. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, to engage in a «constructive and good-faith dialogue,” echoing recent remarks by President Donald Trump, who expressed his “deep disappointment” with the Kremlin and imposed a two-week deadline to gauge Moscow’s sincerity in ending the conflict.
The international community is closely watching what could be a narrow diplomatic opening—though one clouded by deep mistrust and escalating military posturing. Should Moscow fail to submit the memorandum beforehand, Kyiv may reconsider attending the meeting. The fate of this peace initiative remains uncertain.
