Learn about Ukraine's conditions before peace negotiations with Russia in Istanbul.

Ukraine has expressed readiness to participate in a new round of peace negotiations with Russia scheduled for next Monday in Istanbul, but has insisted on receiving the "memorandum" being prepared by Moscow, containing details of its conditions for achieving lasting peace. This announcement follows the failure of the previous round held on May 16, where no tangible results were achieved despite US pressure to bring both parties to the table. Ukrainian Presidential Administration Chief, Andrei Yermak, confirmed the country's openness to the meeting but emphasized the need for serious and constructive discussions, indicating that Russia has enough time to send the document before the set deadline. He explained that Kyiv has provided Moscow with a text outlining its vision, while awaiting the response from the other party. On the other hand, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia has not yet received an official response from Ukraine regarding the meeting, indicating ongoing tension and lack of clarity in intentions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed doubts about the seriousness of the initiative, considering it a Russian attempt to buy time, describing it as a "maneuver." Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson mentioned that Moscow's reluctance to send the memorandum may indicate it contains extreme conditions or ultimatums that are difficult to accept. At the same time, Russia confirmed that it will send the same delegation that participated in the May round, led by Vladimir Medinsky, a sign according to Ukraine that Moscow's stance remains unchanged and negotiations are not being taken seriously. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged both sides not to close the door to dialogue, expressing hope for progress during Monday's talks. On the US side, President Donald Trump expressed disappointment with Russian escalation during the negotiation process but refused to impose new sanctions to avoid jeopardizing the chances of reaching an agreement. In contrast, Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on his Russian counterpart to negotiate "in good faith," emphasizing that dialogue is the only way to end the war. On the ground, escalation continued between the two parties, with Russia announcing the downing of 48 Ukrainian drones, while Ukraine claimed to have destroyed 56 out of 90 Russian drones that attacked its territories. Russian attacks resulted in the deaths of seven civilians in several Ukrainian regions. Moscow also announced its control over three new villages in Kharkiv and Donetsk. Despite international calls, a significant gap remains between the positions of the two parties, with Russia demanding radical concessions from Ukraine, including giving up its aspirations to join NATO and relinquishing the five annexed areas, demands that Kyiv strongly rejects.