Russia pushes for third round of peace talks with Ukraine and sets deadline
Photo: Talks between Russia and Ukraine could resume by the end of June (Getty Images)
Russia has announced a possible third round of talks. The venue for the meeting may be Istanbul, according to Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs.
Russia and Ukraine may hold a third round of talks in late June in Istanbul.
The key issue of the meeting will be the movement toward a sustainable ceasefire.
"It is this movement towards a sustainable ceasefire that will be one of the key issues at the third round. It will most likely be held in Istanbul at the end of the month," Slutsky said.
He also emphasized that Ukraine has limited time to consider Russia's conditions and readiness to compromise.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may meet with Russia's Vladimir Putin. The Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul has proposed specific dates for the talks.
All key issues can be resolved only at the highest level, with the participation of the leaders of the countries. A possible meeting could take place with the participation of US President Donald Trump.
Ukraine has offered the Russian side to hold a meeting by the end of this month, from June 20 to 30.
Ukraine-Russia talks
Yesterday, June 2, the second round of talks between Ukraine and Russia took place. After the meeting, Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said that the parties, in particular, discussed a meeting at the level of leaders.
After the talks in Istanbul on May 16, Russia said it would draw up a so-called memorandum outlining its vision of a ceasefire. Putin claimed that this memorandum was supposed to be a step toward a future peace treaty.
First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Serhii Kyslytsia emphasized that the Ukrainian side had not received a response to its document today. He also confirmed that he had not seen the draft memorandum until June 2.
Read more about the second round of negotiations in RBC-Ukraine's article.
