Introduction
Ukraine has delayed committing to a new round of peace talks with Russia set for June 2 in Istanbul, demanding a clear proposal from Moscow. Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has warned of imminent new sanctions against Russia if progress isn’t made, as President Donald Trump pushes for a negotiated end to the war peace talks.
Why Ukraine is Holding Back
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv is open to peace but will only attend meaningful negotiations. “For a meeting to be meaningful, its agenda must be clear,” Zelenskiy posted on X (formerly Twitter), after meeting with Turkey’s foreign minister in Kyiv.
Ukraine is still waiting for a formal memorandum from Moscow outlining conditions for a ceasefire. “Russia is doing everything it can to ensure that the next potential meeting brings no results peace talks,” Zelenskiy added.
Previous Round Brought Little
The last round of direct talks in Istanbul on May 16 yielded only an agreement on prisoner exchanges. With no major diplomatic breakthroughs, expectations for the next meeting are low.
US Senator: ‘Putin’s Game Is Over’
On a visit to Kyiv, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham stated that the U.S. Senate will likely pass a new sanctions bill against Russia next week. “The game that Putin has been playing is about to change,” Graham said. “He is going to be hit, and hit hard by the United States.”
Graham also said he had consulted President Trump before traveling, and that Trump expects Moscow to act now. Trump has expressed frustration with continued Russian airstrikes during ceasefire discussions, as reported by Reuters.
Ceasefire Conditions and NATO
Russia has reportedly developed a list of conditions for a temporary truce, including a controversial demand: a halt to NATO enlargement eastward. Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, agreed that Russia’s NATO concerns are valid, stating Washington doesn’t support Ukraine’s NATO accession at this time.
The Kremlin welcomed this as a “positive clarification” from Washington, according to the Moscow Times.
Turkey’s Role in Mediation
Turkey has positioned itself as a key mediator. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan discussed with Zelenskiy the possibility of hosting a four-way summit involving Russia, Ukraine, the U.S., and Turkey. Turkish officials hope such a meeting will give real momentum to the peace process.
Read more: Turkey’s growing role in Ukraine diplomacy
Ukraine’s Demands
Kyiv insists that Russia provide proposals in advance and commit to a ceasefire before any substantial diplomatic engagement. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha emphasized, “We want to end this war this year,” adding that Kyiv is open to a truce lasting 30, 50, or even 100 days — if conditions are right.
Moscow’s Stance
The Kremlin confirmed its delegation, led by Vladimir Medinsky, will attend the Istanbul meeting. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, “Everyone is focused on the direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations.”
Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia added that Moscow is open to a ceasefire — but only if the West halts arms deliveries to Ukraine and Kyiv ends troop mobilizations. This was reiterated in his remarks to the UN Security Council.
Conclusion
As both Ukraine and Russia posture ahead of the June 2 talks in Istanbul, the stakes are rising. The U.S. is pressuring Moscow with threats of sanctions, while Kyiv waits for concrete proposals before stepping into another diplomatic round. Will this be a breakthrough or another missed opportunity?
For ongoing coverage, check out our full report on the Ukraine conflict updates.
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