Kremlin: Next Russia–Ukraine talks date depends on peace memo review

The dates for the next round of Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul will be agreed upon after the parties study the memoranda on a peaceful settlement that they exchanged on June 2, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

The timing of the next round of Russia–Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul will be determined after both sides have reviewed the peace settlement memoranda exchanged on June 2, announced at a briefing, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media outlets.

“Obviously, some time will be needed to review the draft memoranda that were exchanged. As soon as both sides are ready, they will coordinate the timing of the next round,” Peskov said in response to a question about whether any specific dates for the next round of talks had been agreed upon.

When asked how frequently meetings between the Russian and Ukrainian sides should take place to avoid delays in the negotiation process, Peskov replied that “it is unlikely that any standardised cycle can be established here.”

“It depends on the willingness of the parties to proceed with each round. Contacts are ongoing, and during these interactions, acceptable timeframes will be determined,” Peskov added.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a briefing that the process of transferring 6,000 bodies of Ukrainian servicemen to Ukraine will begin shortly.

"As a gesture of goodwill, I will emphasise once again, the Russian side will transfer 6,000 bodies of servicemen killed by Ukraine to Ukraine. This process will begin in the near future," Zakharova notes.

She also said that Moscow will thoroughly study the draft memorandum on settling the situation in Ukraine that Kyiv submitted.

"Kyiv took a break to consider the provisions of our document. We received a draft... of the Ukrainian position, it will also be thoroughly studied," Zakharova added.

To recall, on June 3, Leonid Slutsky, Chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on International Affairs, suggested that the third round of negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations may take place by the end of June in Istanbul.

The previous, the second round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, took place in Istanbul on June 2, but concluded with limited progress. Both sides agreed to an exchange involving at least 1,000 prisoners of war each, focusing on severely wounded and young captives aged 18 to 25. Additionally, they consented to return the remains of approximately 6,000 soldiers killed in combat.

Ukraine urged the return of nearly 400 abducted children, but Russia agreed to work on returning only ten.

Despite these agreements, there was no consensus on a ceasefire. Russia proposed a conditional ceasefire requiring Ukraine to withdraw from four occupied regions, a demand Kyiv finds unacceptable. Ukrainian officials rejected this proposal, emphasising the need for an unconditional ceasefire to facilitate broader peace negotiations.

By Khagan Isayev