Russia is waiting for Ukraine's response to the proposal for peace talks in Istanbul in 2025.

Moscow is still waiting for an official response from Kyiv regarding its proposal to resume peace talks in Istanbul at the beginning of June, amid ongoing diplomatic deadlock between the two sides following the failure of the previous round of negotiations. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed today that Russia has suggested holding the next round of talks on June 2 in Istanbul to discuss a draft memorandum of understanding as a step towards reaching a peace agreement. So far, there has been no response from the Ukrainian side, and we must wait. The first round of talks took place in Istanbul on May 16 but failed to reach any agreement on a ceasefire due to what Moscow described as "unmet conditions." Peskov described Ukraine's demands to submit the draft understanding before resuming negotiations as "unconstructive," referring to statements from Kyiv's Foreign Minister Andriy Yermak and Defense Minister Ruslan Homchak. Russia is ready to return to the dialogue table but believes that negotiations should be conducted behind closed doors without disclosing the content of the drafts or conditions of any potential agreement. Moscow is also seeking legal mechanisms to ensure that the conflict does not resume in the future, considering it a cornerstone of any potential agreement. Amid this back and forth, attention remains on June 2, and whether Kyiv will agree to the Russian proposal and return to the table, or if the peace file will remain postponed amidst ongoing tension and escalation on the ground.