Russian media published the text of the “memorandum”: key demands from the Russian Federation for conflict resolution
On the evening of June 2, Russian state information agencies — TASS and RIA Novosti — circulated the text of the so-called "conflict resolution memorandum," which contains a series of proposals for terminating hostilities in Ukraine and conditions for resolving the conflict. The document has sparked much discussion, as it outlines Moscow's goals and entirely radical demands that significantly limit the political space for the Ukrainian side and complicate efforts to find a compromise. According to available information, among the main provisions of the "memorandum," Russia demands the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian military forces from four key regions — Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson oblasts. If implemented, this would effectively mean Ukraine's capitulation in these regions and threaten the territorial integrity of Ukraine’s borders. Moreover, one of the central points of the document is the establishment of Ukraine's neutral status. This entails rejecting plans for Ukraine's accession to any military alliances, including NATO. The memorandum also discusses a ban on deploying foreign military formations on Ukrainian territory, which casts doubt on any possible international security guarantees for Kyiv. Another key point is the demand to confirm that Ukraine will not possess nuclear weapons — this issue is seen by the authors of the memorandum as a security guarantee that must be legally enshrined. According to Russian authors of the document, this is intended to prevent any future efforts to restore Ukraine’s nuclear potential. On the domestic policy level, it is proposed to eliminate all "nationalist formations," which, from the Russian perspective, undermine stability and security in the country. This category likely includes various military and political organizations that support Ukrainian sovereignty from Russia's point of view. Another requirement is to establish the maximum number of Ukrainian troops in the Armed Forces, which, according to Russia’s logic, will create controlled balance of forces and prevent further escalation of the conflict. Russian agencies also emphasize the need to grant official status to the Russian language in certain territories and to ensure "freedom" for the Russian-speaking population. This raises many questions about the future linguistic and cultural policy landscape in Ukraine. The document is further complemented by a number of other points and proposals that complicate the possibility of compromise and deepen the ongoing confrontation. In reality, this "memorandum" has sparked a wave of intense discussions among Ukrainian politicians, analysts, and international experts. Most of them note that the formulation of demands presented in the document essentially nullifies any efforts to find a diplomatic solution that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. At present, Ukrainian official authorities have not publicly commented on the contents of the document, acting cautiously and trying to determine how to respond to this initiative from the Russian side. Meanwhile, global analysts forecast that any new document with such conditions could become another attempt by Russia to impose its rules on Ukraine or a precondition for new negotiations — both scenarios requiring caution and responsible policies from both sides.