Is Russia Open to Further Discussions with Ukraine?

Moscow, May 20 (NationPress) Moscow expresses its willingness to engage in further discussions with Kyiv and plans to propose a collaborative effort towards a memorandum concerning a prospective peace agreement, as stated by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Tuesday.

Zakharova noted that Russia has reiterated its commitment to reach a definitive and equitable resolution to the ongoing crisis, emphasizing that any progress toward resolving the conflict hinges on addressing the underlying issues.

She highlighted the necessity of reaching consensus on several critical elements, including the foundational principles of the settlement, the timeline for a potential peace agreement, and the specifics regarding a possible ceasefire, should suitable accords be established.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov previously remarked that both Moscow and Kyiv must now prepare for discussions concerning the development of a joint memorandum related to the peace treaty and ceasefire, as reported by Xinhua. He expressed optimism regarding the renewed dialogue between Russia and Ukraine, stating that there is no set deadline for finalizing the memorandum.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump engaged in a telephone discussion regarding the Ukraine situation and recent talks held in Istanbul.

Trump declared that ceasefire negotiations between Russia and Ukraine would commence promptly following his two-hour conversation with Putin, mentioning that the atmosphere of their dialogue was very positive.

Immediately following his call with Putin, Trump shared on his social media platform Truth Social that Russia and Ukraine would instantly initiate discussions aimed at establishing a ceasefire and work towards resolving the conflict.

He indicated that Russia is keen on pursuing significant trade agreements with the United States once the conflict concludes. “There is an enormous opportunity for Russia to generate vast amounts of jobs and wealth. Its potential is UNLIMITED. Similarly, Ukraine stands to gain greatly through trade while rebuilding its nation,” he stated.

He further elaborated that the conditions for a ceasefire would be negotiated directly between Russia and Ukraine, “as only they possess the intricate details of the negotiations that no one else knows.”

However, Trump also cautioned reporters later that he might withdraw from the negotiation process, saying, “There are strong personalities involved, but I believe something will materialize. If it doesn’t, I simply step back, and they will have to continue negotiating without me.”