Robert Ghement, Mikhail Klimentyev/ EPA/Presidential Press and Information Office
Of the two, one: either Ukraine leaves the territories already occupied by Russia or faces a path of concessions. Ukraine was invited to the NATO summit.
Russia proposed this Monday to Ukraine partial ceasefire “two to three days in certain sectors of the Batalha”During the second round of conversations in Istanbul, the head of the Russian delegation announced.
After the meeting, Vladimir Medinsky nominated at a press conference that the Moscow delegation handed over to the Ukrainian party memo in two parts, which addresses the total suspension of hostilities. “The second part includes the steps for a possible and complete ceasefire,” said Medinsky.
The Russian negotiator described the ceasefire plan as detailed and includes two alternatives. “The Ukrainian side will study it and answer. We’ll see,” he said.
Of the two, one: either Ukraine leaves the territories already occupied by Russia or faces a path of concessions.
In addition, Russia has also proposed to Ukraine a “specific ceasefire” for two to three days in certain sectors of the front, so that the commanders can collect the bodies of their soldiers ”fallen into combat.
“This will now be discussed by our military experts with the Ukrainians,” added Medinsky, explaining that in certain zones the sanitary situation is dangerous and exists “The risk of an epidemic”Therefore, short truce would allow these bodies to be quickly removed.
The Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic compared the Russian demands to finish the war for what the Nazis asked in 1938.
“What we are seeing is another fascicle for Russia’s ‘peace’ plans. It’s just like we had seen: we should not be taken as idiots,” said the official in X: “Ukraine has to surrender, the West has to give in, that’s what they wanted in 1938 and what Kremlin wants since 2014.”
Sides will exchange all prisoners up to 25 years
In this sense, he said that the Russians will unilaterally deliver 6,000 bodies of soldiers and officers in their inauguration, which was confirmed by the Kiev delegation at the end of the meeting. “Next week, we will deliver them alongside Ukrainian to a proper burial. I don’t know if they have bodies. We’ll accept them too,” Medinsky said.
The Moscow negotiator also confirmed that Both sides have agreed to exchange all prisoners of war up to 25 years and all injured or sick prisoners. “It’s a humanitarian gesture on our part,” he said, realizing that there will be at least a thousand people on each side.
Medinsky announced that for just over an hour of negotiations, both sides agreed to create Permanent Medical Commissions That, “without waiting for major political decisions”, will elaborate lists for the exchange of severely injured soldiers.
The head of the Russian delegation also mentioned that Moscow will analyze a list of 339 Ukrainian children deported that Kiev’s envoys have delivered in order to facilitate the return. “Russia will study all cases on the Ukrainian list, without exception,” said Medinsky, noting that “there is no single stolen child, there are children who have been saved and removed from combat zones.”
This dossier of Ukrainian children led the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue in March 2023 warrants of capture against Russian President Vladimir Putin, and against the committee of the rights of the child, Maria Lvova-Belova. At the press conference that took place in parallel at the end of the meeting in Istanbul, the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umarov, stated that this situation of Ukrainian children is a fundamental condition for progress towards peace.
New meeting in Türkiye?
The Ukrainian Defense Minister also said he proposed a new meeting, from 20 to 30 Juneat the highest level, with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Russian and American counterparts, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, respectively.
The proposal of this tripartite meeting was also advanced by the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with the possible meeting taking place in Istanbul or Ankara. The previous round, also held in Istanbul on May 16, had already led to an exchange of a thousand prisoners on each side, without resulting in a ceasefire, after more than three years of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Trump again showed available To meet Putin and Zelensky in Türkiye.
Monday’s negotiations took place one day after one, destroying or damaging numerous aircraft, including thousands of kilometers from the front of the battle. In some front sectors, however, Kiev faces difficulties, since Moscow troops have advanced in recent days, particularly in the Sumy region of Ukraine.
A and requires, in addition to the control of the provinces of Donetsk, Lugansk, in northern Ukraine, and Zaporijia and Kherson, in the south, as well as the Crimea Peninsula, which Kiev resign to NATO and its militarization plans. These conditions are unacceptable to Ukraine, which aims to remove the total removal of Russian troops from its territory, as well as security guarantees, supported by the West, such as the protection of the NATO or the presence of western troops on the ground, which Moscow discards.
A Ukraine was invited to the NATO summitwhich takes place in the Netherlands at the end of June. The confirmation was given by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.
