Russia has proposed a date to hold the next round of talks with Ukraine regarding the ongoing conflict, now entering its fourth year.
On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested June 2nd as the proposed date for Russian and Ukrainian delegations to meet. The proposed location for the talks is Istanbul, consistent with previous rounds of negotiations.
According to Lavrov, Ukraine is currently reviewing the proposal. He also confirmed that Russia has drafted a memorandum outlining its position on ending the war, which it intends to present at the talks.
Also on Wednesday, Vladimir Medinsky, a presidential aide and the head of Russia’s negotiating team, confirmed that he spoke with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to propose the date for the next round of discussions.
Western media had earlier reported that Umerov had called Medinsky and pressed him about the memorandum, suggesting that Moscow was hesitating in the process. Medinsky, however, contradicted those reports, stating that he initiated the call and that the Ukrainians are currently considering the proposal.
“We are waiting for their confirmation as soon as possible and are ready to meet them in person and start working on the date specified – in the coming days,” Medinsky said, as quoted by Russian media.
The previous round of negotiations occurred on May 16th, following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rejection of a European-backed ultimatum that called for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire or the imposition of new sanctions. Instead, Putin proposed restarting direct negotiations with Ukraine, which had been suspended since 2022, largely at the urging of the U.K. and U.S.
U.S. President Donald Trump currently supports the continuation of negotiations, but he has repeatedly criticized both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the lack of tangible progress. Trump has frequently threatened to walk away from the talks entirely.
On Wednesday, Yuri Ushakov, a senior aide to Putin, stated that Trump may not be receiving accurate information from his advisors.