Today at 11:42
Ukraine has publicly accused Russia of stalling peace negotiations by failing to deliver a promised memorandum ahead of a new round of talks proposed for Monday in Istanbul, according to The New York Times.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Kyiv had already submitted its detailed 22-point peace memorandum to both Russia and the United States, including key provisions for a cease-fire on land, sea, and air, with monitoring by international partners.
“For the next round of talks to be substantive and meaningful, we need to receive Russia’s proposed document in advance,” Sybiha stated. “Without that, we risk walking into an ambush.”
Russia has declined to share its terms ahead of the meeting, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov saying on Friday that the memorandum “cannot be made public” and would only be presented during the negotiations themselves.
Ukrainian officials argue that Russia’s delay tactic may be a ploy to shift blame, proposing unacceptable conditions during the talks — such as territorial concessions — and then accusing Ukraine of derailing the process by refusing them.
U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg confirmed that Washington had received Ukraine’s peace memorandum, calling its terms “pretty good” and “reasonable.” However, he urged Kyiv not to boycott the talks even if Russia doesn’t submit its memorandum in advance.
Russia, meanwhile, is intensifying its military operations in eastern Ukraine, suggesting — according to Ukrainian and Western officials — that Moscow is not truly committed to a cease-fire.
