The Ukrainian delegation, as during the first round of negotiations on May 16, was headed by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umarov, and the Russian – assistant to the illegitimate President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin Vladimir Medinsky.
The meeting was opened by the Turkish side. Like the last time, the Russians demanded that the US representatives should not be in negotiations.
“Perhaps they were worried that Washington would not be too impressed by their diplomatic skills,” wrote on the social network X journalist The Economist Oliver Carroll, who published several insidies from the meeting.
I Forgot to Say the Russians Had Specificylly Asked for the Americans Not to Pressent at the Talks. Perhaps they Were Worried Washington Wouldn't Be tooo Impressed by Their Diplomatic Skills. https://t.co/vhkedwqil
– Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) June 2, 2025
At the meeting, several issues were discussed: the exchange of prisoners and bodies of the dead; the return of the stolen Ukrainian children; A 30-day ceasefire and a meeting of leaders.
In essence, it was possible to agree only on one point – regarding the exchange. According to Umarov, the parties agreed to exchange seriously wounded and seriously ill prisoners of war in the format of “all for all”, in the same format – young military (at the age of 18–25 years), as well as the bodies of those who died in the 6000 per 6000 format. Medinsky said that during exchange, each side would have to transfer at least 1000 prisoners of war. In addition, according to him, there is an agreement that the exchange of seriously wounded prisoners of war will take place on an ongoing basis, “without waiting for large political decisions.”
Umarov said that the Ukrainian delegation handed the Russians a list of several hundred stolen Ukrainian children.
“If Russia is really devoted to a peaceful process – the return of at least half of the children from this list would be a positive signal“,” He said.
Medinsky confirmed that the Russian Federation received a list of 339 children. At the same time, he claims that the children were allegedly not abducted, and the Russian army “saved” them. The head of the Russian negotiation group said that the Russian Federation allegedly returns children as soon as he finds his parents. But as The New York Times wrote, Russia took out many children from orphanages and began to change their personalities. Regarding the list received, Medinsky said that the Russian Federation would analyze where these children are located. Allegedly, they can be in Europe or in occupied Ukrainian territories. According to journalist Carroll, when at the meeting the Ukrainian side voiced the demand to return the children, Medinsky asked not to arrange “ideas for childless European old women.”
UKRANIAN SIDE PASSED on List of 100s of Children Deported to Russia. A source with Knowledge of the Exchange Says Head of Russian Delegation Vladinsky Responded Thus: “Donat Put on a Show for Bleeding-Heads No Children of their Own “(2/3)
– Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) June 2, 2025
The Russian Federation still rejects the idea of a complete and unconditional ceasefire. Instead, she offered to declare a truce for two to three days on the “individual sections of the front” so that the bodies of the dead could be taken.
The Ukrainian delegation said that only leaders can solve all key issues of peaceful settlement, and emphasized that the further work of negotiation groups makes sense if it is aimed at preparing the meeting of leaders. Ukrainians proposed holding such a meeting from June 20 to 30. The Russian delegation did not comment on this topic.
Ukrainians insisted that the next step in the process of settlement should be a ceasefire, after which a meeting of leaders should be. “If the Russians are seriously related to the end of the war, we are ready to work on it. If not, international sanctions must be imposed,” said Umarov.
In negotiations, the Russians transferred their “memorandum” about the establishment of peace. They refused to show him before the meeting. Russian propagandists published the text “Memorandum”, which Moscow provided in Istanbul. He who Includes three sections with two options for a ceasefire and 31 points. The first version of the ceasefire provides for the full discharge of the Armed Forces from the territories that Moscow claims. The Russians called the second option a “package proposal.” Among other things, the Memorandum prescribes a ban on the reception and placement of nuclear weapons in Ukraine, the presidential elections and the Verkhovna Rada, which supposedly should take place no later than 100 days after the cancellation of martial law, Refusal of mutual claims with Ukraine in connection with damage from hostilities.
Umarov said that the parties have a week to study the proposals of the other side.
Context
The first direct negotiations in three years Between Ukraine and the Russian Federation took place on May 16 in Istanbul, the United States and Turkey also attracted them. The parties agreed on the exchange of prisoners, talked about a 30-day ceasefire, as well as the likely meeting of leaders. Ukraine for the meeting June 2 Prepared a memorandumwhich sets out the basic principles of the probable agreement with the Russian Federation and the negotiation process. In particular, they relate to sanctions, ceasefire, security guarantees for Ukraine, the media wrote.
