Russia submits "usual" demands for peace in Ukraine talks
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The Russian delegation in Istanbul. Photo: Adem Altan/AFP via Getty
Russia presented Ukraine with a "peace memo" on Monday stating its terms for a ceasefire and peace deal, though the Russian position effectively remains unchanged, a Ukrainian official told Axios.
Why it matters: The delegations met in Istanbul for a second round of peace talks a day after Ukraine conducted a stunning drone attack deep inside Russian territory.
Driving the news: The talks ended after about an hour with no clear breakthrough beyond an agreement for another prisoner exchange. Russia continues to reject President Trump's demand for an immediate ceasefire.
- Ukraine's defense minister said all POWs who are under 25 or in serious medical condition will be exchanged. The Russian side said it would hand over 6,000 bodies and at least 1,000 POWs.
- The Russian position as stated in the peace memo remains "as usual," and includes demands that Ukraine withdraw from regions of Ukraine that Russia claims, a Ukrainian official said.
- The Russians also proposed returning 10 children taken from Ukraine into Russia by July 10, two Ukrainian officials said, noting that was a fraction of the number of Ukrainian children held in Russia.
Zoom in: Andryi Yermak, President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff, said Ukraine gave Russia a list of Ukrainian children it wants returned.
- The head of Russia's negotiating team, Vladimir Medinsky, denied in the meeting that tens of thousands of Ukrainian children had been abducted by Russia, calling it propaganda, according to the two Ukrainian officials.
- "Stop throwing around crazy numbers. We will return everyone who is in the Russian Federation. There is no kidnapping. Russian soldiers do not kidnap. They only saved them because their lives were at risk. Do not put on a show for European compassionate aunties who do not have children themselves," Medinsky said.
What to watch: The Ukrainian aide proposed a leader-level summit before the end of June. So far, Russian President Vladimir Putin has declined to sit down with Zelensky.
- Medinsky said Russia's memorandum included steps toward a ceasefire, and that Russia had also proposed a limited ceasefire for two to three days in certain areas.
- Ukraine is pushing for a full ceasefire, as Trump initially demanded.
State of play: The Ukrainians sent their own written proposal to the Russians over the weekend, which included proposed confidence-building measures and some red lines around Ukrainian sovereignty.
