Ukraine confirms its readiness for bold steps towards peace in Istanbul talks.

The Ukrainian delegation expressed its determination to move forward in the peace process during the scheduled talks with the Russian side in Istanbul today, Monday, June 2.

The Ukrainian delegation conveyed through a source their commitment that Kyiv attended with a "clear program and a desire to take significant steps towards peace," expressing hope to avoid the Russian side's insistence on previous conditions.

Intensive coordination with European allies

The Ukrainian delegation held a series of preparatory meetings with representatives of Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom before starting the talks with Moscow.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, through the "X" platform, indicated that Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsia and delegation member Oleksandr Bezfalov "coordinated positions" with European partners in preparation for the meeting with the Russian delegation.

Zelensky announces flexibility with stern warnings

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during his meeting with NATO leaders in Lithuania, affirmed that his country is ready to "take necessary steps to achieve peace," but warned that any Russian obstruction of the negotiations or their failure to achieve tangible results will require "imposing new sanctions" on Moscow.

Negotiation milestones and Kyiv's conditions

The Russian and Ukrainian delegations arrived in Istanbul this morning in response to a Russian proposal, with talks set to begin at Ciragan Palace at 12:00 PM (10:00 GMT), according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry statement.

This meeting comes after months of stalemate, where the two sides in May had their first direct talks since 2022 resulting in a prisoner exchange.

Ukraine has outlined its key conditions for achieving peace, including a complete and unconditional ceasefire, release of prisoners, return of abducted children, and a call for a high-level summit to ensure sustainable peace.

Moscow links ceasefire to its conditions

Russia, on the other hand, refuses an unconditional ceasefire but recently expressed readiness to negotiate under specific conditions. Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia emphasized on Friday the need for the West to stop supplying Kyiv with weapons and end Ukrainian military mobilization as prerequisites for any ceasefire.