Zelenskyy Questions Russia_Ukraine Peace Negotiations Agreement: The World Is Waiting

JAKARTA - Ukraine's defense minister recently called the head of the Russian delegation regarding the Istanbul negotiations. The call is intended to discuss a memorandum of understanding that Moscow is currently drafting to outline its requirements for any peace agreement.

Defense Minister Rustem Umerov led the Ukrainian delegation to the May 16 negotiations, the first negotiations between the two warring countries since the spring of 2022. The Russian team was led by Vladimir Medinsky.

Kyiv and its allies have urged Russia to carry out an immediate and unconditional ceasefire as a basis for negotiations to end the conflict.

While Moscow says there are several conditions that must be met first.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia was constantly looking for excuses to delay negotiations to end the war, which has been going on for more than three years.

"The world has been waiting for more than a week for Russia to finalize what their memorandum says about what they need to stop killing people," he said in Berlin, Germany.

Ukrainian leaders said Kyiv was previously still waiting for Moscow to issue a memorandum on how he looks at the future of peaceful negotiations before responding.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine had contacted the Russian side after Istanbul negotiations, in which Russia first said it would make a memorandum to inquire about the document.

"Our side - we have been in contact with the Russian side. The defense minister called Medinsky from Russia. They said it would happen. But we never received it," Zelensky said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was preparing for the next round of negotiations with Ukraine and would continue contact with the United States.

Istanbul can be a place for the next round of negotiations, Peskov said.