02.06.2025 08:30
Turkey will host another historic summit today. Following Ukraine's attack that destroyed over 40 Russian aircraft, delegations from Russia and Ukraine will meet again in Istanbul to discuss a ceasefire. The meeting is scheduled to take place at 1:00 PM at the Çırağan Palace. The Russian delegation has arrived in Istanbul for the talks.
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After the Russia-Ukraine meeting held in Istanbul on May 16, Ukraine responded today to the call for another meeting in Istanbul.
MESSAGE FROM ZELENSKY
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine will participate in the meeting with Russia scheduled for today in Istanbul. Zelensky provided information that the negotiations will again be led by Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. In a post on his Telegram channel, Zelensky stated, "I outlined the main points of (Ukraine's) positions before the meeting to be held in Istanbul."
"I RECEIVED REPORTS FROM THE UKRAINIAN SECURITY SERVICE"
Zelensky included the following statements in his message: "I received reports from the Ukrainian Defense Minister, Foreign Minister, Chief of General Staff, our intelligence agencies, and the Ukrainian Security Service. I gathered information about our defense, our active actions, and our diplomacy. We are doing everything we can to protect our independence, our state, and our people. I have defined the tasks for the near term and also clarified our position before the meeting to be held in Istanbul."
Providing details about their positions in the meetings in Istanbul, Zelensky stated, "Firstly, a complete and unconditional ceasefire. Secondly, the release of prisoners. Thirdly, the return of abducted children. To ensure a reliable and lasting peace and security, a high-level meeting must be prepared. These key issues can only be resolved by the leaders. Tomorrow, Rustem Umerov will lead our delegation," he said.
RUSSIA HAD POINTED TO JUNE 2
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated in a statement on Friday, May 30, that results must be obtained from inter-delegation meetings for high-level discussions regarding Ukraine, saying, "The Russian negotiation team is heading to Istanbul; they will be ready for the second round of negotiations on Monday morning."
In response to a question about the possibility of a summit in Turkey between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and U.S. President Donald Trump, Peskov said, "It is necessary to obtain results from the direct discussions held by the delegations of the two countries before such a meeting. If results are obtained, we can certainly talk about high-level contacts."
Peskov emphasized that they hope to address the memorandums prepared by Russia and Ukraine in the second round of negotiations in Istanbul, stating, "Right now, everyone is focused directly on the Russia-Ukraine negotiations. Work is ongoing to develop a list of conditions for a temporary ceasefire. However, the security of navigation in the Black Sea will somehow become part of future solutions."
THE PARTIES WILL MEET AT ÇIRAĞAN PALACE
According to information obtained from sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meetings between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations are planned to take place today at 1:00 PM at Çırağan Palace.
THE RUSSIAN DELEGATION HAS ARRIVED IN ISTANBUL
The Russian delegation, led by Vladimir Medinski, Advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who will participate in the negotiation talks, has arrived in Istanbul. The Moscow administration announced that they have determined their own peace conditions but refused to disclose them in advance.
CONFLICT ESCALATED BEFORE THE NEGOTIATIONS
As the parties prepare to sit down at the table in Istanbul on Monday, reports of intense attacks came in on the night between Saturday and Sunday. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that Ukraine had attacked military air bases in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur regions with FPV drones, and some aircraft caught fire.
The attacks reached the interior of the territories in northwestern, southwestern, and eastern Russia. Ukrainian sources on social media reported that the Ukrainian army had conducted a large-scale drone operation against Russia.
It was claimed that more than 40 Russian aircraft, including A-50 early warning aircraft, Tu-95, and Tu-22M3 bombers, were damaged in the attacks, and images from Ukrainian sources showing attacks on some bombers spread rapidly. The attacks were reported to have been carried out on Russian air bases in the Murmansk, Ryazan, Irkutsk, and Ivanovo regions.
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