01.06.2025 16:02
Ukrainian President Zelensky made statements regarding the negotiations planned to take place in Istanbul tomorrow. Informing that the Ukrainian delegation will be in Istanbul tomorrow, Zelensky said, "I have also clarified our position before the meeting. First, a complete and unconditional ceasefire. Second, the release of prisoners. Third, the return of abducted children."
The ceasefire talks between Ukraine and Russia will continue tomorrow (June 2) in Istanbul. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made statements on his social media account before the meeting.
"I CLARIFIED OUR POSITION BEFORE THE MEETING IN ISTANBUL"
Zelensky stated, "I received reports from the Ukrainian Minister of Defense, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Chief of General Staff, our intelligence agencies, and the Ukrainian Security Service. I learned 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 tomorrow in Istanbul," he said.
"PRIORITY IS A COMPLETE AND UNCONDITIONAL CEASEFIRE"
Providing details about their stance in the talks in Istanbul, Zelensky said, "First, a complete and unconditional ceasefire. Second, the release of prisoners. Third, the return of abducted children. To ensure a reliable, 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 head our delegation," he stated.
RUSSIA HAD POINTED TO JUNE 2
Russia and Ukraine had their first face-to-face talks since 2022 on May 16 in Istanbul. Russia and Ukraine had agreed on a prisoner exchange of 1,000 each during the talks.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Friday, May 30, that results must be obtained from inter-delegation talks for high-level discussions on Ukraine, saying, "The Russian negotiation team is on its way 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 talks 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," he said.