Kremlin issue major update on Putin's meeting with Zelensky for Ukraine peace talks

Russia has offered Ukraine a date and place for negotiations in the coming days. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has invited Ukraine to hold direct peace talks with Moscow in Istanbul, Turkey on Monday, June 2. In a video statement, he said that Russia would use the meeting to deliver a memorandum - a document outlining the details of a ceasefire - stating Moscow's stance on "reliably overcoming the root causes of the crisis."

Mr Lavrov said any Russian delegation would be headed by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky. "We hope that all those who are sincerely interested in the success of the peace process in more than just words will support a new round of direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in Istanbul," he added. The first direct talks between Ukraine and Russia were held on May 16 in Istanbul, yet President Putin failed to fly in for them. The news follows Sergei Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, telling a Kremlin security summit that it would require Ukraine to revoke all "discriminatory laws" in the next round of peace negotiations.

He said: "At these negotiations on May 16 in Istanbul, when they resumed, we insisted on the abolition of all discriminatory laws and will continue to do so at the next round of direct negotiations, which we will announce in the very near future.

"I would like to emphasise that we have always, for many years, before the special military operation and after its beginning, proposed and continue to propose to the Ukrainian side to resolve all problems, and they are becoming more serious every year, to resolve them through dialogue and diplomacy."

Ukraine has said it's "not opposed" to meetings with Russia, yet the country's defence minister, Rustem Umerov, has called on Moscow to deliver their memorandum to Ukraine first. Mr Umerov said: "We reaffirm Ukraine's readiness for a full and unconditional ceasefire and continued diplomatic engagement."

He added: "We are not opposed to further meetings with the Russians and are awaiting their 'memorandum', so that the meeting won't be empty and can truly move us closer to ending the war.

"The Russian side has at least four more days before their departure to provide us with their document for review."

The first round of direct discussions earlier this month saw an agreement of 1,000 prisoners of war to be swapped - the largest exchange since the war began. However, Ukraine's aim of a full and unconditional ceasefire was not met.

Kyiv is refusing to concede any of Ukraine's territory to Russia as part of the peace deal, including Crimea. Russia currently controls 20% of the country's territory, which includes Crimea.

As part of the deal, Moscow also wants confirmation that Ukraine will not join NATO.

One senior Kyiv aide said: "The main outcome of the [May 16] talks was that Putin bought time. The fact Putin was stalling for time became obvious to everyone, but this did make President Trump unhappy. Putin will continue to tell the United States that the negotiations are being disrupted by Ukraine and the EU, while he wants peace."

The source added that President Putin will make proposals to the United States, which "is playing not only against Ukraine but also against Europe". They said that the Russian President does not wish for the war to end, as it would be "the collapse of his rule".