Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses hope that the Russian side will not disrupt the planned subsequent stages of the peace negotiations
This was stated by Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, in response to official statements from Moscow regarding readiness to present so-called "memorandum" with proposals for a ceasefire during the second round of negotiations, scheduled for June 2 in Istanbul. At the same time, the Ukrainian diplomat emphasized that there is no point in waiting until Monday: if the Russian side has finally formulated its document, it can be handed over to Ukraine as early as today without any further delay. “Why wait until Monday? If the Russians have finally prepared their 'memorandum' — after ten days of reflection and the destruction of our country — it can be passed to us immediately,” Sybiha stressed in his social media post on X (formerly Twitter). According to him, Ukraine hopes that the Russian side will not attempt to derail the planned negotiations and will soon submit its proposals for Ukrainian review. It is important to note that earlier, Ukraine and its international partners agreed to hold the second round of negotiations precisely on June 2 in Istanbul, and the Ukrainian delegation is diligently preparing for a constructive dialogue. “Only proper preparation and an open dialogue can truly bring positive results. We are ready for a constructive exchange of proposals and believe in the possibility of reaching at least some compromises for the sake of peace,” added the Ukrainian Foreign Minister. What preceded this? On May 28, Russia officially announced its proposal to hold the second round of negotiations in Istanbul on June 2. The head of the Russian delegation, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, stated that his country intends to present Ukraine with its "memorandum" containing proposals for a possible ceasefire. It is also known that Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who led the Ukrainian delegation in previous negotiations in Istanbul, handed Russia an official document reflecting Ukraine’s position and main goals in the negotiation process. Now, Ukraine is awaiting a response in the form of a Russian "memorandum," which it plans to review carefully and take appropriate measures to move forward in search of peace. Overall, Ukrainian representatives are calling on the Russians to take the diplomatic process seriously and not to use negotiations as a tool for delaying or formalities. They emphasize that a period of uncertainty and reluctance to seek compromises harms everyone — from ordinary citizens to the country's leadership. Therefore, Ukraine aims for a constructive, open dialogue aimed at achieving genuine peace and restoring stability on Ukrainian soil.