Ukraine Submits Peace Terms, Insists Russia Must Do Same Before Further Talks
Ukraine has submitted its peace terms and insisted that Russia do the same before further talks can take place, according to the Ukrainian defence minister, Rustem Umerov. In a statement, Umerov said that Ukraine is not opposed to further meetings with the Russians, but is awaiting their memorandum. "The Russian side has at least four more days before their departure to provide us with their document for review," Umerov said. "Diplomacy must be substantive, and the next meeting must yield results." This development comes as the Kremlin has demanded that talks take place next Monday in Turkey.
According to a report by The Guardian, Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, has stated that a Russian team is ready to present a memorandum to the Ukrainian delegation and provide the necessary explanations during a second round of direct talks in Istanbul on Monday, 2 June. The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has also called for Moscow to engage in "good-faith" talks with Ukraine in a call with Lavrov.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has accused Russia of dragging out the peace process and not wanting to halt its offensive. "They will constantly look for reasons not to end the war," Zelenskyy said at a press conference in Berlin alongside the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz. This comes as Vladimir Putin promised Donald Trump that Russia would produce the "memorandum" in conjunction with Ukraine during their phone call on 19 May.
In a related development, Donald Trump has stated that Putin is "playing with fire" by continuing to attack Ukraine. However, Trump’s words sounded more tepid on Wednesday, as he said he would determine within "about two weeks" whether Putin was serious about ending the fighting. Trump also rebuffed calls to impose more sanctions on Moscow, saying "If I think I’m close to getting a deal, I don’t want to screw it up by doing that."
The conflict has had a devastating impact on civilians, with three Ukrainian children, aged 8, 12, and 17, killed in their beds by a Russian cruise missile. The children’s father, still bearing fresh injuries, was released from the hospital to attend the funeral. Moscow denies targeting civilians, but abundant evidence shows otherwise.
In a separate development, Ukraine and Germany have announced that Berlin will help finance long-range weapons production on Ukrainian soil. The deal appears to be a workaround to German concerns about being labelled a "warmonger" if it provides its far-reaching Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. According to The Guardian, the expectation is that Berlin will supply Ukraine with the technical components to build and maintain its own long-range weaponry, including rockets and cruise missiles, with a range of up to 2,500km.
As the conflict continues, Zelenskyy has stated that Russia is amassing more than 50,000 troops on the frontline around the north-east Sumy border region. Ukraine has also reported a heavy wave of drone attacks into Russia, striking several of the Kremlin’s weapon production sites. With the situation on the ground remaining volatile, it remains to be seen whether the peace talks will yield any results.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant human suffering, with many civilians caught in the crossfire. As reported by The Guardian, the international community continues to call for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. With Ukraine submitting its peace terms and insisting that Russia do the same, the stage is set for further talks. However, with Moscow’s continued aggression, it remains to be seen whether a peaceful resolution can be reached.
In conclusion, the situation in Ukraine remains complex and volatile, with both sides dug in and unwilling to compromise. As The Guardian continues to report, the international community must remain vigilant and continue to push for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. With the humanitarian situation on the ground continuing to deteriorate, it is imperative that a solution is found soon.
