Lavrov’s Bold Statements: Russia Claims the Memorandum on Peace in Ukraine Is at an “Advanced Stage,” but Meeting Dates Are Still Unclear
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced significant progress in work toward a possible memorandum with Ukraine regarding conflict resolution. These statements from the head of Russia's diplomatic department come amid unclear prospects for further negotiations and the absence of specific dates, adding tension to the peace process. According to Lavrov, Russian diplomatic circles are already in an "advanced stage" of cooperation on preparing the relevant document. When pressed by journalists, he hinted that his team has already completed a significant part of the work and that only technical details remain to be agreed upon. At the same time, the minister emphasized that there are no details yet about the timing of the second round of negotiations, and reaching an agreement on it may take some additional time. Lavrov also noted that he does not know when exactly the Russian and Ukrainian delegations will be able to sit down for negotiations again. Regarding the potential location of the meeting, he expressed cautious skepticism about the idea of holding it in the Vatican. According to him, this would be an "inelegant" option, as discussions on addressing the root causes of the conflict require a platform appropriate to the significance of the negotiations. The place for the upcoming round of talks remains unknown, as stated by Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov. According to him, the specific date and location of the meeting have not yet been determined, leaving diplomatic circles in a state of uncertainty. Background situation: At the end of May, a significant summit between Western countries and Russia took place. Then-U.S. President Donald Trump, while in the United States, held a two-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Following the meeting, Trump stated that Ukraine and Russia would "immediately" begin negotiations to cease hostilities, hinting at the possibility of progress in diplomatic conflict resolution. Putin, in turn, emphasized that Russia is ready to cooperate with Ukraine to prepare a memorandum that could include a temporary ceasefire. He noted that contacts between the negotiating groups that met in Istanbul have supposedly been restored, opening additional opportunities for diplomatic dialogue. Separately, Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine would wait for the Russian version of the possible memorandum to be able to form its own view and position. He noted that once Russia offers a specific draft of the document, Ukraine will be able to take corresponding steps and define its strategy. Overall, in light of recent events and diplomatic statements, new hopes are emerging for a potential return to negotiations. However, whether the parties will be able to agree on all the nuances and determine the date and location of the meeting remains an open question. The persistent uncertainty continues to foster tension around the conflict, which negatively impacts regional security and the search for sustainable peace in Ukraine.