Kyiv: The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has sharply criticized Russia's new precondition for a ceasefire, which demands the dismantling and destruction of all Western-supplied weapons in Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have described this condition as 'absurd' and indicative of 'total inadequacy.'

According to Anadolu Agency, the statement from the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry came in response to comments made by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko. On June 16, Grushko told the state-run daily Izvestia that Moscow would insist on the elimination of all Western military aid in Ukraine as a prerequisite for any ceasefire agreement. He stated, "All these surpluses must be destroyed. All international algorithms are known. They must be reduced, disposed of, and guaranteed," without offering further details.

The statements have heightened tensions over the terms under which peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow might resume. Despite previous rounds of direct peace negotiations held in Istanbul on May 16 and June 2, mediated by Turkey, the talks collapsed due to disagreements over territorial concessions, ceasefire proposals, and army limitations.

Moscow's memorandum, as reported by Russian media, includes points such as international recognition of Ukrainian regions under Russian control, banning arms supplies to Ukraine, ending mobilization, holding elections, adopting a neutral non-allied status, and ensuring the rights and freedoms of Russian-speaking people.