Second round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks ends swiftly with no major breakthrough

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Second round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks ends swiftly with no major breakthrough

CNN
By Christian Edwards
June 2, 2025

Russian and Ukrainian delegates met in Istanbul on Monday for their second set of direct peace talks, a day after Kyiv launched a shock drone attack on Russia’s nuclear-capable bombers, in an operation that President Volodymyr Zelensky said was a year and a half in the making.

The talks began late and lasted barely over an hour. Although both sides agreed to work on a new prisoner exchange, statements from the two sets of delegations suggested that little had been achieved to bridge the gulf between their positions, particularly on the matter of a ceasefire.

After the initial round of discussions in the Turkish city last month – the first between the warring countries since soon after Russia’s full-scale invasion in early 2022 – both sides agreed to share their conditions for a full ceasefire and a potentially lasting peace.

Russian state media agencies reported that Russia laid out two ceasefire “options” in its peace memorandum.

In the first option, Moscow will ask for the complete withdrawal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) from Ukraine’s mainland Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, RIA Novosti reported. Russia annexed those regions during its invasion in 2022, but has been unable to fully capture them in the years since.

In the second option, called a “package deal,” the UAF would have to demobilize, and all foreign military aid to Kyiv, including intelligence, would be halted, a summary of the memorandum published by RIA Novosti said.

Ukraine would also be prohibited from deploying and mobilizing its armed forces, and martial law in Ukraine would need to be lifted, with elections to be held no later than 100 days after it is lifted, the memorandum outlined.

It is not clear whether Ukraine can choose just one of the options, or whether it must agree to both.

The maximalist demands expand on the terms set by Russia during the 2022 trilateral talks held in Turkey.

(more)
https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/02/europe/russia-ukraine-peace-talks-turkey-drone-attack-intl

[Hoodat]

It's to be expected when only one side wants peace.

[jafo2010]

Putin has no honor, is an accomplished liar, manipulator, and has zero intention to end the war.

Trump has been played exactly like Chamberlain, only he is clueless to that fact!  No Art of the Deal will enable him to deal with Putin.  Only one thing will impress or even gain Putin's attention, total brutal force.  The USA should provide Ukraine with one MOAB a week to level a city in Russia.  Supposedly, we have but 13 in inventory.  I say let's make another 100 and use half destroying Russian cities in earnest.  Then and only then might Putin listen to anything Trump & Co have to say.

[Free Vulcan]

Zelensky has screwed the pooch with his sneak attack on Russian bombers. I doubt Putin will come to the table from here.

We'll be lucky if we come out of this without some nukes dropping.

[Hoodat]

Zelensky has screwed the pooch with his sneak attack on Russian bombers. I doubt Putin will come to the table from here.

Putin already wasn't coming to the table.  The only difference now is that Russia's strategic bomber capability has been reduced by one-third.  That means less bombers in the air firing missiles at Ukrainian civilians.  Zelenskiy definitely made the right move.  He spoke in the only language Russia understands.  At some point, one has to stand up to bullies.

[Canuck Conservative]

The only difference now is that Russia's strategic bomber capability has been reduced by one-third

Those are the same bombers that Russia would use to attack Europe and the US.

Ukraine just did the World a big favor.

[DB]

Zelensky has screwed the pooch with his sneak attack on Russian bombers. I doubt Putin will come to the table from here.

We'll be lucky if we come out of this without some nukes dropping.

No. Putin isn't going to any table without being forced to. Period.

[Timber Rattler]

I doubt Putin will come to the table from here.

Putin won't ever be coming to any table, period.  He had his chance in Turkey three weeks ago but stayed home after Zelensky called his bluff.