Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, which resumed on Monday, have once again underscored the stark contrast in demands from both sides.
Russia’s latest proposal, formally presented in Istanbul, stipulated that Ukraine must surrender significant territories and accept severe limitations on the size of its army in exchange for an end to the war. The memorandum, as reported by Russian media, illustrated that Moscow remains steadfast in its war objectives despite external pressures, including calls from U.S. President Donald Trump for a ceasefire to end the ongoing bloodshed.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, who leads the Ukrainian delegation, looks on as he speaks during a press conference at Ciragan Palace, on the day of the second round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, in Istanbul, Turkey, June 2, 2025. REUTERS/Cagla Gurdogan TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Ukraine, however, has firmly rejected these terms, viewing them as a de facto surrender. The two delegations met for barely an hour, marking only the second round of negotiations since March 2022. In a sign of limited progress, both sides agreed to exchange more prisoners of war, focusing on the youngest and most severely wounded, and to return the bodies of 12,000 soldiers.
Despite the lack of a concrete breakthrough, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan called the talks a success and voiced hope that a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could take place in Turkey, potentially with Trump facilitating the process. However, the prospect of a ceasefire—strongly urged by Ukraine and its Western allies—remains distant.
Russian Demands
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with senior officials to discuss the upcoming peace talks with Ukraine in Moscow, Russia May 14, 2025. Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.
Moscow has claimed that it is pursuing a long-term settlement to the conflict, while Kyiv is insisting that President Vladimir Putin does not want peace.
Russian demands, as outlined in a memorandum by the Interfax news agency, include the international recognition of Crimea and four other regions of Ukraine that Moscow has claimed since the invasion. Ukraine would also be required to withdraw its forces from these territories. Additionally, Russia insists on Ukraine’s neutrality, barring its NATO membership, and wants legal protections for Russian speakers, alongside a ban on what it considers the glorification of Nazism—accusations that Ukraine rejects as unfounded.
Russia also presented two ceasefire options, both of which Ukraine is unlikely to accept. The first requires Ukraine to begin a full military withdrawal from territories including Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson—regions Russia controls to varying degrees. The second option involves a cessation of military redeployments, halting foreign military aid to Ukraine, and a lifting of martial law in exchange for presidential and parliamentary elections within 100 days.
Ukraine Backfires
epa12102158 A handout picture made available by the Turkish Presidential Press Office shows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a welcome ceremony prior to their meeting in Ankara, Turkey, 15 May 2025, on the same day Russian and Ukrainian delegations gather for peace talks in Istanbul. EPA/TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS OFFICE HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES
As reported by Reuters, Ukraine presented a roadmap of its own, calling for no restrictions on its military capacity post-settlement, no international recognition of Russian territorial gains, and reparations from Russia. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov noted that Ukraine would review the Russian document, though he offered no immediate comment.
Meanwhile, the battlefield remains active. Ukrainian forces have escalated their operations, with recent drone attacks targeting Russia’s strategic bomber fleet, a key element of Moscow’s nuclear arsenal. This move, part of a larger operation dubbed “Spider’s Web”, was seen as one of Ukraine’s boldest strikes of the war, reaching airfields thousands of miles from the front lines. Despite conflicting reports on the extent of the damage, the operation signals that Ukraine is continuing to exert pressure on Russia while emphasizing its determination not to concede to Russian demands.
