Istanbul: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that Russia is prepared for a second round of direct negotiations with Ukraine, scheduled for June 2 in Istanbul, according to Russian state-run news media TASS.

According to Anadolu Agency, Lavrov emphasized that the involvement of the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Trkiye was instrumental in creating favorable conditions for resuming these talks. The first round, held on May 16 in Istanbul, resulted in a significant prisoner exchange involving 1,000 individuals from each side, and both parties agreed to draft position documents aimed at achieving a sustainable settlement.

Lavrov stated that Russia has developed a memorandum outlining their position on resolving the crisis and is ready to present it during the upcoming talks. He expressed gratitude to Trkiye for hosting the negotiations and called on international actors to support the proposed meeting.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov responded by affirming Ukraine's readiness for a complete and unconditional ceasefire and emphasized the need for Russia to provide the promised memorandum before the talks. Umerov noted that Ukraine had already submitted its position document and urged Russia to fulfill its promise to deliver their memorandum promptly.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also commented, questioning the delay until June 2 and urging Russia to submit their proposals immediately to ensure a productive meeting. Sybiha expressed hope that the upcoming discussions would lead to concrete results.