Russia has demanded that Ukraine withdraw its forces from four regions it has declared annexed before any comprehensive ceasefire, according to a Russian memorandum sent to Kyiv on Monday and published by Russian news agencies.
According to the document, handed to the Ukrainian delegation at the talks in Istanbul, Moscow demands a “complete withdrawal” of the Ukrainian army from the partially occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the east, and from the Zaporizhia and Kherson regions in the south, before the implementation of a “30-day ceasefire.”
From a Ukrainian perspective, these conditions constitute an attempt to impose a fait accompli at the negotiating table, while Kyiv refuses to cede any of its territory or recognize Russian sovereignty over the occupied regions. Istanbul, Turkey, hosted a new round of talks between Russia and Ukraine on Monday, the second of its kind since 2022, amid escalating military tensions and deep political differences.
Despite the political impasse, the two sides announced an agreement to exchange the bodies of 6,000 soldiers killed in the fighting, a humanitarian measure cautiously welcomed by the international community.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustam Umerov also revealed a preliminary agreement for an exchange of prisoners, including wounded and young soldiers.
Umerov explained that the Russian delegation had presented a new draft peace agreement, adding that Ukraine would review the document and propose holding a new round of negotiations before the end of June.
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