Russia has suggested that a second round of direct discussions with Ukraine will be held in Istanbul on June 2, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The Turkish city, which hosted the previous talks, was again proposed for the upcoming negotiations. Lavrov informed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a telephone call on Moscow’s preparations and said Russia will offer ‘specific proposals’ at the Russian Foreign Ministry. Kyiv: Not opposed, but to wait for Russia’s ‘Peace Memorandum’, the Ukraine expressed conditional openness to the talks. The Minister of Defense Rusem Umerov confirmed that Kyiv is ready to get involved, but has criticized Russia for postponing the submission of his ceasefire. “We confirm the readiness of Ukraine for a complete and unconditional ceasefire and continued diplomatic involvement,” says Umerov. “We are not opposed to further meetings … but await their memorandum, so that the meeting will not be empty and we can really move closer to end the war.” Umerov emphasized that Ukraine had already sent its conditions and urged Moscow to act before the deadline on June 2. Trump is frustrated by the delay of Putin, US President Donald Trump, has voiced growing annoyance with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the intensive conflict. Trump spoke of the Oval Office and accused Putin of standing still: “We’re going to find out if he’s tackling us or not, and whether he’s, we’ll respond a little differently,” Trump said. Despite his frustrations, Trump immediately excluded new sanctions, referring to the need to preserve room for diplomacy. “Really bad things would have happened to me already,” he warned Putin in a social post, adding that the Russian leader “plays with fire”. Putin aid relief rejects Trump’s remarks Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov responded sharply to Trump’s comments, saying the US president “did not go well over the realities of the war.” Battle Front Escalation Despite talks, even if diplomatic talks are flowed, the fight on the ground is still increasing. Russia claimed that it had decreased 296 Ukrainian drones in 13 regions overnight. Ukraine reported that he had hit several Russian weapons production facilities. The Ukraine Army also said Russia launched 88 drones and five ballistic missiles, while progress in the northeastern Sumy region continued. Moscow now claims control of various towns after pushing past the border. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that 50,000 Russian troops are now stationed near Sumy, although he said Kyiv is taking preventative steps. Germany, Ukraine to develop long-distance missiles in Berlin, announced German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that Germany and Ukraine will work together on long-term missile production. The Kremlin condemned the move and called it “irresponsible” and a provocation that would attract the conflict. A war with no end in sight Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, after years of fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russian-supported separatists in the east of Ukraine. More than three years later, Moscow controls almost a fifth of the Ukrainian area. Despite modest territorial profits, both sides still suffer heavy casualties and economic tensions as the war continues.
Russia proposes the second round of peace talks in Istanbul on June 2; Ukraine says ‘not opposed’, but awaits Putin’s terms | Today news
