Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that Ukraine and Russia may soon sign a memorandum paving the way for a ceasefire. This announcement follows a significant phone call between his Russian and US counterparts.
According to Anadolu Agency, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged in a detailed conversation on Monday, lasting over two hours, to explore possibilities for a ceasefire in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Putin indicated during the call that Moscow is prepared to collaborate with Kyiv on a memorandum that might lead to a peace agreement.
During a press briefing in Sochi, Putin characterized the discussion as 'frank and substantive,' emphasizing that both nations should exhibit the utmost willingness to achieve peace and find mutually acceptable compromises. Zelenskyy, speaking to reporters in Kyiv, mentioned that the proposed memorandum could serve as a foundational step toward ending the war, by outlining provisions for a ceasefire.
While the contents of the memorandum remain undisclosed, Zelenskyy expressed confidence that the details will become clear once Russia presents its proposals. He has engaged in extensive discussions with US President Trump, before and after the latter's call with Putin, which also involved leaders from France, Finland, Germany, Italy, and the EU.
Zelenskyy conveyed that Trump views direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia as crucial, stressing that Russia must provide explicit signals regarding their vision for a ceasefire and subsequent actions. The possibility of a high-level meeting involving Ukraine, Russia, the US, EU countries, and the UK is being explored to resolve the conflict.
In recent developments, Istanbul hosted high-level peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, facilitated by Trkiye. The talks resulted in an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each and to continue negotiations for a truce. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for arranging the discussions and clarified that Ukraine will not withdraw its troops from its territory. Details and dates for the prisoner exchange are actively being discussed between Moscow and Kyiv.