Moscow shares update on Ukraine peace memorandum — RT Russia & Former Soviet Union

Russia is continuing work on a draft memorandum outlining the principles and timing of a potential future peace treaty with Ukraine, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said.

Earlier this month in Istanbul, Russia and Ukraine held their first direct peace talks in three years. The delegations agreed to draft memorandums outlining their proposals for a peace settlement and announced a record 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange.

“Russia continues to develop a draft memorandum on a future peace treaty, defining a number of positions, such as the principles of settlement, the timing of a possible peace agreement, and a potential ceasefire for a certain period of time, if appropriate agreements are reached,” Zakharova said at a press briefing on Tuesday. According to the spokeswoman, the document will be handed over to Kiev as soon as it is finalized.

“We expect that the Ukrainian side is conducting similar work and will send us its proposals simultaneously with the receipt of the Russian document,” Zakharova said.

The spokeswoman noted, however, that Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has been undermining the peace efforts with “destructive statements.”

“Instead of seeing and hearing those who are trying to focus on at least some kind of constructive approach [he] is trying to… shift the blame for prolonging the conflict to Russia, while begging for more weapons every day and demanding tougher anti-Russian sanctions,” she noted. According to the official, Zelensky is deliberately trying to “hinder the emerging peace progress.”

“Those who want peace do not make plans on how to supply even more weapons to the region… how to worsen the situation, not allowing those plans or shoots that were planted in Istanbul to grow further,” the diplomat stated, referring to Zelensky’s Western backers.

Zelensky mocked the Russian delegation in Istanbul, calling it “weak and unprepared” and raising doubts about its decision-making powers. He accused the US, which has been mediating the peace process, of a lack of support for Kiev, which he claimed benefits Russia. This latest allegation sparked criticism from US President Donald Trump, who said that Zelensky “is doing his country no favors by talking the way he does” and that “everything out of his mouth causes problems.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday signaled that the Russian draft of the memorandum will likely be ready ahead of the next round of direct Russia-Ukraine talks. He noted, however, that neither a date nor venue for the negotiations has been determined.