At the core of the process, Russia says, should be a “Memorandum” that was handed to the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul.
Russia claims it is prepared to continue negotiations with Ukraine to end the war, but only in the “Istanbul format.”
The comment was made to the Russian outlet Izvestia by Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin.
“Russia is open to a political and diplomatic settlement and to continuing direct negotiations with representatives of Kyiv. Turkish officials have repeatedly confirmed they are ready to continue providing the Istanbul venue. Thus, all the conditions are in place to develop the Istanbul track. The only problem is the lack of political will in Kyiv,” he said.
According to him, Russia’s “proposals” remain in place for a “localized humanitarian truce” along the line of contact, prisoner exchanges, repatriation of remains, return of civilians, and a “memorandum on the principles of a peaceful settlement.”
After the second round of talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul in early June, Russian media published the so-called “Memorandum” that the Russian delegation handed to the Ukrainian side in Istanbul.
In it, Russia demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk and Kherson regions as the first option for a ceasefire condition, as well as a halt to Western aid to Ukraine for the duration of the “truce,” a stop to mobilization, the lifting of martial law and the holding of elections, and that Ukraine cease “sabotage activities” against Russia. It is this “Memorandum” that Moscow proposes to keep working on.
Moscow has also repeatedly stressed that any talks in Istanbul “should proceed taking into account the realities on the ground and the work done in the 2022 negotiations.”
At that time, Russia demanded that Ukraine adopt full neutrality, reduce the size of its armed forces, and leave occupied territories under Russian control. According to information later published by German outlet Die Welt, only a few points remained unresolved and were to be discussed in person by the Russian and Ukrainian presidents at a meeting that never took place.
