**Russia Claims Progress on Ukraine Peace Deal**
The Kremlin has announced that serious work is being done to draft a possible peace deal for the ongoing war in Ukraine. Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, made this statement on Monday.
According to Peskov, Russia and Ukraine are working on a memorandum relating to a peace accord. However, he emphasized that the Russian draft of the memorandum has not yet been submitted. He said that work is continuing, and that this draft is a serious document that requires careful checks and preparation.
**Accusations of Stalling**
The announcement comes as accusations from Kyiv and European governments have grown louder. They claim that Moscow is stalling on the peace process and has no genuine interest in resolving the conflict. Russia has rejected these accusations, saying it wants to find a peaceful solution to the war.
**Prisoner Exchange Completed**
One step towards a potential peace deal was completed over the weekend. A prisoner exchange agreed upon during talks in Istanbul was finished on Sunday. This saw both Russia and Ukraine hand over 1,000 people as part of the swap.
Peskov stated that work towards a peace deal will continue based on agreements reached in Istanbul, with this prisoner exchange serving as the first stage. The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, also mentioned that Moscow would be ready to submit a draft document outlining conditions for a long-term peace accord once this prisoner exchange was completed.
Read More @ www.reuters.com
