**Russia’s “Peace Memorandum” Exposed: Zelensky Says Ukraine Won’t Back Down**
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has come out swinging against Russia’s so-called “peace memorandum”, calling it an ultimatum that Kyiv cannot accept. In an interview with Hungarian news outlet Valasz Online, Zelensky said that Russian negotiators explicitly told the Ukrainian delegation that their proposals were not meant to be negotiated on.
“They even told our delegation: we know that our memorandum is an ultimatum, and you will not accept it,” Zelensky said. This revelation sheds light on Russia’s true intentions behind the peace talks, which were held in Istanbul on June 2. The Kremlin submitted its proposals for a ceasefire, but they came with stringent conditions that Ukraine cannot agree to.
**Russia’s Maximalist Demands**
The Russian “peace memorandum” demands that Ukraine recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea and four other occupied regions – Kherson, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk. It also insists on Ukraine’s complete military withdrawal from these territories, which is a non-starter for Kyiv. The proposals also include Ukrainian neutrality, an end to foreign military assistance, and the recognition of Russian as an official language.
“These are not negotiations, but ultimatum,” Zelensky said. “We have repeatedly said that if we receive adequate security guarantees preventing Putin from continuing the war, then we will have time to decide on territorial issues.”
**Ukraine’s Counterproposal**
In contrast, Ukraine’s counterproposal in Istanbul included an all-for-all prisoner swap, the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, and the release of all civilians held in captivity. Kyiv also proposed using frozen Russian assets for reconstruction and said it would consider lifting certain sanctions if a ceasefire is achieved.
**No Ceasefire in Sight**
Despite the humanitarian agreements reached in Istanbul, no ceasefire or political breakthrough was achieved. The negotiations resulted in key commitments to exchange prisoners of war (POWs) and the bodies of fallen soldiers, but these are small steps compared to the broader conflict.
As Ukraine and the U.S. continue to push for an unconditional ceasefire, Russia has maintained its maximalist demands and rejected all such proposals. The international community must recognize that Russia’s true goal is to erode Western support for Ukraine and prolong negotiations while continuing military aggression.
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