Putin announces readiness for third round of talks with Ukraine, but there is a catch
Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the Russian and Ukrainian ceasefire memoranda are directly opposed. However, negotiations are underway to find a solution, Putin made this statement during a conversation with journalists.
Journalists asked the President how he assesses Ukraine’s ceasefire memorandum. In response, Putin said it is the opposite of Russia’s proposal. However, he refused to elaborate, claiming it would be "harmful to the negotiations."
"These are two completely opposite memorandums, but negotiations are organized and conducted precisely to find ways to bring positions closer. And the fact that they were directly opposed, I think, is not particularly surprising. I wouldn’t go into detail because I consider it inappropriate — even harmful — for the talks," Putin said.
According to the Kremlin leader, Russia and Ukraine have allegedly agreed to continue further contacts after the current stage of exchange is completed. Putin believes that another round of talks between Russia and Ukraine could be held following the prisoner exchange.
"We agreed that after this stage is completed, we will hold a third round of negotiations. Overall, we are ready for that. We just need to agree on the time and place," Putin said.
He expressed hope that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his country would continue to act as mediators in the negotiations. Russia is supposedly ready to hold the next meeting in Istanbul again. However, a specific date has not yet been set.
"The heads of the delegations are currently negotiating the timing of the next meeting… The subject of the meeting, in my view, should be the discussion of both sides’ memoranda," Putin stated.
New negotiations after June 22
Putin recently claimed that a new round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia would supposedly take place after June 22. Around the same time, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova also stated that the Kremlin’s delegation was ready to travel to Istanbul after June 22 for talks with Ukraine.
However, the Ukrainian side has not confirmed whether it is prepared for a third round of negotiations with Moscow. The potential substance of such a meeting remains unclear.
"They deliberately made the first two meetings empty, so it’s unclear what exactly there is to discuss at the third one — who among the Ruriks was more of a Rurik, or what?" a government source told RBC-Ukraine.
