After deliberating for a couple of days, and under reported pressure from the US and Turkey, Ukraine has announced today that it will participate in the peace negotiations with Russia on Monday in Istanbul.
Back on Wednesday (28), Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared that Russia was ready to meet with Ukraine on June 2 in the Turkish city that had already hosted the first round of talks in mid-May.
Lavrov says the Russian delegation, again headed by Vladimir Medinsky, will present a memorandum on ending the Ukraine crisis to the Ukrainian delegation.
Still on Wednesday, Zelensky’s Defense Chief Rustem Umerov issued a non-response to Russia’s proposal: ‘we are not opposed to further meetings with the Russians.’
After announcing the talks, Lavrov had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in which he informed him about Moscow’s preparation of specific proposals for the negotiations in Istanbul.
Rubio again emphasized Trump’s focus on a speedy resolution to the Ukrainian conflict.
But Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga continued to demand a memorandum from Russia on ending the war BEFORE the new round of talks. Kiev leader Volodymyr Zelensky also claimed ‘words with Moscow don’t work’.
At this point it appeared that the talks may not take place.
Yesterday (29), the Kremlin denied Ukraine’s demand to hand over the memorandum with Russia’s demands for peace before the meeting in Istanbul.
Turkey’s FM Hakan Fidan reportedly flew to Ukraine to coax them into participating in the talks.
What seemed to tip the scales of Ukrainian acceptance was the intervention of Donald J. Trump’s envoy Keith Kellogg.
The most pro-Kiev of Trump officials gave an interview in which he surprisingly denied Ukraine will ever be part of NATO, and admitted that Russian worries about NATO expansion East are justified.
Kellogg also said he’s had to pressure Zelensky’s team into going to Istanbul talks:
“I spoke with [Ukrainian Defense Minister] Rustem Umerov, who will lead the delegation at the next talks in Istanbul, and he hasn’t seen [the memorandum] yet either. I always warn: don’t say things like you won’t show up. Part of life is showing up. You need to show that you’re serious.”
Kellogg says he’s had to LECTURE Zelensky’s team about going to Istanbul talks
‘If you don’t show up, part of life is showing up’
‘And you need to show you’re serious’ about peace https://t.co/qE89HEUNOu pic.twitter.com/aG8jsajcs6
— RT (@RT_com) May 29, 2025
Finally, today (30), Zelensky’s gray eminence, head of the Ukrainian Presidential Administration Andriy Yermak officially announced Ukraine’s readiness to attend the Istanbul meeting with Russia.
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