**Ukraine Awaits Russian Ceasefire Memorandum, Diplomatic Pressure Works**
The war-torn country of Ukraine is still waiting for a proposed ceasefire memorandum from Russia, despite international pressure. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on May 28 that Kyiv is expecting the document to be submitted after peace talks in Turkey earlier this month.
According to Umerov, the international community had anticipated Russia would submit the document promptly after the May 16 negotiations in Istanbul. However, Russia has delayed submitting the memorandum, leading Ukraine to apply pressure through statements from world leaders such as US President Donald Trump and European leaders.
**Diplomatic Pressure Works**
The efforts of these leaders seem to have paid off, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announcing that Russia’s memorandum will be presented by a delegation led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky during the next round of negotiations set for June 2 in Istanbul. Umerov credited statements from Trump, European leaders, and President Volodymyr Zelensky for compelling Moscow to complete the draft.
**Ukraine Reiterates Readiness for Ceasefire**
In his Facebook post, Umerov reaffirmed Ukraine’s readiness for a full and unconditional ceasefire and continued diplomatic engagement. He also noted that Russia had received Ukraine’s position paper, which outlines Kyiv’s stance on the conflict.
**Russia’s Demands Remain Controversial**
The proposed Russian memorandum reportedly includes long-standing maximalist demands that Kyiv withdraw from four partially occupied regions, that NATO cease further expansion eastward, and that some sanctions on Moscow be lifted. These demands have been widely criticized by Ukraine and its international allies, who view them as attempts to undermine the country’s sovereignty.
**Survey Reveals Widespread Negative View of Russia**
A recent survey published by the Kyiv-based think tank Razumkov Center found that a vast majority of Russian-speaking Ukrainians view Russia negatively. This challenges Moscow’s narrative that Kyiv discriminates against Russian-speaking citizens through its language policies.
**Ukraine Calls for Preparedness and Substantive Diplomacy**
Umerov stressed the importance of preparedness to ensure any discussions are productive, saying that Ukraine is open to additional meetings but expects Russia to fulfill its promise of submitting the document. He called on Moscow to stop trying to turn the meeting into a destructive one and urged them to provide the document for review without delay.
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