Foreign Minister Andri Sibikha says he would like to see a document outlining Russia’s proposal before Ukraine sends a delegation to talks in Turkiye.
Ukraine said Russia would like to see a document detailing the proposed conditions for the ceasefire before sending its delegation to Istanbul for bilateral talks next week, but the Kremlin said it hopes to discuss the conditions for the ceasefire at the planned meeting.
“For a meeting to be meaningful, its agenda must be clear and negotiations must be properly prepared,” Ukrainian Voldimia Zelenki wrote to X after meeting Tulkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan for consultations in Kiev.
“Unfortunately, Russia is doing everything it can to ensure that the next potential meeting will not result,” he added, citing the lack of proposed terms from Russia.
Kiev says the reason Moscow has not provided in the document is that it is likely to include the ultimate in Ukraine’s red line, the ultimate in maximalism.
Speaking earlier at a press conference in Kiev on Friday, Foreign Minister Andri Sibikha did not confirm that Russia will take part in the negotiations proposed by Russia on June 2.
“In order for the next planned meeting to be substantial and meaningful, it is important that the delegations present have the authority to discuss relevant positions,” he said.
He said Ukraine had not received such a document up until now outlining Russia’s proposal.
The two sides previously met on May 16th in Istanbul for their first in-person meeting in more than three years. The talks ended within two hours and the ceasefire failed to bring about a breakthrough. The fighters agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners each.
Ukraine expressed disappointment after consultations, and Zelensky said it was a “sign of disrespect” that Russia sent a junior delegation that was not authorized to sign a ceasefire.
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi said on Thursday X that Russia’s delay in sharing its ceasefire proposal “is likely to have been met with an unrealistic ultimate.”
Speaking at a press conference on Friday with the visiting Fidan, Sibikha said that Kiev wanted to end the war.
“We want to end this war this year. Whether it’s 30, 50 or 100 days, we’re interested in establishing an armistice,” he said.
“Ukraine can talk about this directly with Russia. We confirmed this at the final meeting of the delegation with the Russian side.”
Turkiye proposes a leader’s summit
Fidan suggested that, under the direction of Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan, meetings with Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump could continue to talks next week if they move on.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said such meetings will only take place if the outcome is achieved in bilateral negotiations.
He said proposals for the agreement between the two parties will be discussed in Istanbul, and details will not be made public.
Peskov added that Russia is pleased that Putin’s position on his participation in NATO in Ukraine is understood by the US.
Kellogg told Network ABC that he hopes bilateral talks in Istanbul will move on.
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