MFA: Russia prepares memorandum outlining peace proposal for Ukraine

Russia is continuing work on a memorandum regarding Ukraine that will outline key principles and potential timelines for a settlement, according to the official spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova.

Zakharova said at a briefing that the document will include proposals for a future peace agreement, including fundamental positions such as settlement principles, possible timeframes for concluding a peace deal, and the potential for a temporary ceasefire, should relevant agreements be reached, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

"Russia continues to develop a draft memorandum concerning a future peace agreement, identifying several positions such as the principles of settlement, deadlines for potentially concluding the agreement, and the possibility of a temporary ceasefire if the appropriate agreements are achieved," Zakharova stated.

She also noted that Russia intends to deliver the memorandum to Ukraine once the document is finalised.

"Once the memorandum is prepared — and I want to emphasise that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is commenting almost daily on its progress — it will be handed over to Kyiv. We hope the Ukrainian side is conducting similar work and will share their own proposals at the same time they receive the Russian document," she said.

The first round of talks between Russia and Ukraine took place in Istanbul on May 16. The negotiation process was reinitiated following a proposal made by Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 11. Ukraine agreed to participate in the talks after US President Donald Trump urged Kyiv to “immediately accept” Putin’s proposal.

Before that, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had stated that a 30-day ceasefire was a condition for the resumption of talks with Moscow.

Following the May 16 meeting, Moscow and Kyiv agreed to exchange prisoners on a "1,000 for 1,000" basis, to draft their respective visions of a potential ceasefire in detail, and to continue the negotiation process.

Vladimir Medinsky, the head of the Russian delegation and presidential aide, said that Russia was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting.

The exchange of POWs between the sides concluded on May 26.

By Tamilla Hasanova