Zelenskyy: Putin cannot be allowed to resolve who can be a part of Nato as this can solely permit his ‘urge for food for conflict to develop’
Here’s a abstract of what else Zelenskyy mentioned throughout his handle in Vilnius after a summit within the Lithuanian capital:
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He mentioned sanctions in opposition to Russia are “obligatory”, including you will need to “significantly restrict” Russia’s oil commerce and Moscow’s use of tankers.
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“With out stress Putin will simply maintain enjoying video games with everybody who desires this conflict to finish,” the Ukrainian chief mentioned.
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Zelenskyy says he expects extra prisoners of conflict to be freed.
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“The important thing to lasting peace is obvious: the aggressor should not obtain any reward for conflict. Putin should get nothing that may justify his aggression. Any reward would solely present him that conflict pays off.”
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If Putin decides who can and can’t be a part of Nato, then Russia’s “urge for food for conflict” will solely develop, Zelenskyy mentioned, including that the objective ought to be to utterly finish “Russia’s starvation for aggression”.
Key occasions
Russian negotiators have handed Ukraine two proposed choices for a ceasefire, Russian state media mentioned on Monday.
RIA information company mentioned the primary would require Ukraine to begin a whole withdrawal of all its forces from 4 areas of the nation that Russia has claimed as its personal territory.
The second choice can be a “package deal” deal containing quite a lot of circumstances, RIA mentioned.
The day to date
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Ukraine has proposed to carry a subsequent spherical of talks with Russia earlier than the tip of June. “We suggest to the Russian facet to carry a gathering by the tip of this month, from twentieth to thirtieth of June,” Ukrainian defence minister Rustem Umerov mentioned after right this moment’s talks in Istanbul.
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The Ukrainians agreed to return 6,000 our bodies of fallen troopers, he mentioned, whereas offering the Russian facet an inventory of Ukrainian kids kidnapped to Russian territory throughout the conflict. “This matter is a elementary precedence for us: If Russia is genuinely dedicated to a peace course of, the return of at the least half the kids on this listing is constructive,” Umerov mentioned.
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Russia rejected an unconditional ceasefire with Ukraine on the talks in Istanbul, a Kyiv negotiator, Sergiy Kyslytsya, mentioned. “The Russian facet continued to reject the movement of an unconditional ceasefire,” Kyslytsya informed reporters in a press convention after the talks.
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Moscow’s high negotiator Vladimir Medinsky has mentioned that Russia proposed a partial ceasefire of “two to a few days” on the talks in Istanbul. “We’ve got proposed a selected ceasefire for 2 to a few days in sure areas of the entrance line,” Medinsky mentioned, “in order that commanders can accumulate the our bodies of their troopers”. We’ve got not heard what the Ukrainian place on this particular, quick ceasefire is but.
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Turkey will take steps to carry collectively the leaders of Russia and Ukraine for talks in both the capital Ankara or in Istanbul, Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan mentioned on Monday. “My want is to carry Putin and Zelenskyy collectively in Istanbul or Ankara. Additionally to ask Trump to this assembly as nicely… We are going to take steps for this assembly after the most recent talks,” Erdogan mentioned, talking after a cupboard assembly in Ankara.
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Nordic, Baltic and central European Nato members are dedicated to Ukrainian membership of the army alliance, the leaders of Poland, Romania and Lithuania mentioned in a joint assertion after a summit of the B9 and Nordic nations on Monday, Reuters experiences.
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German chancellor Friedrich Merz will push for a “honest ceasefire” in Ukraine throughout his first in-person assembly with Donald Trump in Washington on Thursday, in keeping with a German authorities spokesperson. Merz, who was confirmed as chancellor after a shaky start last month, has promised to place staunch help of Ukraine on the coronary heart of his authorities amid persistent considerations over US safety commitments to Europe.
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Ukraine mentioned on Sunday it had destroyed Russian bombers value billions of {dollars} as distant as Siberia, in its longest-range assault of the conflict. In a spectacular declare, Ukraine mentioned it had broken $7bn value of Russian plane parked at 4 airbases hundreds of kilometres (miles) away, with unverified video footage exhibiting plane engulfed in flames and black smoke. A supply within the Ukrainian safety companies (SBU) mentioned the strikes hit 41 planes that had been used to “bomb Ukrainian villages”.
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Andriy Kovalenko, the top of Ukraine’s centre for countering disinformation, has mentioned in a Telegram publish that Ukraine destroyed at the least 13 planes throughout the drone assault on Russian airbases yesterday, including that different army planes had been broken.

Ruth Michaelson
Russian officers held a competing press convention within the grounds of the Çırağan palace whereas the Ukrainian delegation was nonetheless speaking, in a becoming conclusion to a day of talks that continuously noticed Ukrainian and Russian diplomats trying to marshal crowds of journalists because the transient negotiations wrapped up, with Ukrainian diplomats reluctant to confess Russian media to their briefing.
Chief Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky informed journalists that Moscow delivered a memorandum to the Ukrainian facet which incorporates “steps in direction of a full ceasefire.” Within the interim, Moscow urged “a ceasefire for 2 to a few days in sure areas,” he added, with out specifying which areas he was referring to.
The Ukrainian facet has repeatedly mentioned that main points can solely be solved with a ceasefire in place first, or within the phrases of international ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi, “the diplomats can communicate when the weapons are silent.” The Ukrainian facet repeatedly declined to touch upon the contents of Russia’s memorandum when talking to journalists, saying they had been offered with the doc for the primary time throughout right this moment’s assembly and that their facet must examine it first earlier than offering any type of response.
Kyiv has repeatedly questioned whether or not Moscow is severe about negotiations, and the outcomes of talks right this moment urged progress in the identical areas as a number of weeks in the past, specifically an change of prisoners of conflict, somewhat than the substantive talks to finish the preventing that the Ukrainians say they’re prepared to have interaction in.
Medinsky mentioned that Moscow will hand over 6000 our bodies of fallen Ukrainian troopers subsequent week, a part of an change that may even see Kyiv ship the identical variety of our bodies of fallen Russian troopers.
The chief Russian negotiator mentioned {that a} separate change of prisoners of conflict will contain “a minimum of 1000 troopers from our facet,” whereas the Ukrainians mentioned their focus was on classes of detainees, specifically troopers aged 18-25 and severely wounded prisoners, declining to call a selected quantity to be exchanged. Medinsky confirmed this, including that “all,” sick and wounded prisoners will probably be swapped.
One key speaking level that emerged throughout right this moment’s negotiations was Ukraine handing Russia an inventory of “a number of hundred,” kids that Kyiv desires returned from Russia in keeping with Ukrainian defence minister Rustem Umerov. These abductions had been the topic of a global prison court docket arrest warrant for Russian president Vladimir Putin in addition to different Russian officers.
Medinsky acknowledged the Ukrainians’ demand in his feedback to journalists, saying that Ukraine handed Russian negotiators an inventory “that incorporates 339 names,” to be returned, with out commenting additional.
Russia rejected an unconditional ceasefire with Ukraine on the talks in Istanbul, Kyiv negotiator Sergiy Kyslytsya says.
Moscow has constantly rejected prolonged ceasefire proposals, arguing they might give Ukraine time to rearm and regroup at a time Russian forces are making battlefield advances.
Ukraine has proposed an extra spherical of talks with Russia earlier than the tip of June.
Turkey will take steps to carry collectively the leaders of Russia and Ukraine for talks in both the capital Ankara or in Istanbul, Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan mentioned on Monday.
“My want is to carry Putin and Zelenskyy collectively in Istanbul or Ankara. Additionally to ask Trump to this assembly as nicely… We are going to take steps for this assembly after the most recent talks,” Erdogan mentioned, talking after a cupboard assembly in Ankara.
Russia supplied Ukraine partial ‘2-3 day’ ceasefire, Moscow’s high negotiator says
We reported in an earlier post that Ukraine mentioned that throughout the talks this afternoon Russia rejected its provide of an unconditional ceasefire, as Moscow has carried out prior to now.
Moscow’s high negotiator Vladimir Medinsky has now mentioned that Russia proposed a partial ceasefire of “two to a few days” on the talks in Istanbul.
“We’ve got proposed a selected ceasefire for 2 to a few days in sure areas of the entrance line,” Medinsky mentioned, “in order that commanders can accumulate the our bodies of their troopers”. We’ve got not heard what the Ukrainian place on this particular, quick ceasefire is but.

Ruth Michaelson
The Ukrainian facet mentioned little about how a wide-ranging drone strike on targets over 2500 miles from their territory impression negotiations right this moment.
In response to questions on the topic, international ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi mentioned:
The important thing factor is that Russia is the aggressor and Ukraine is defending itself – Ukraine solely targets legit army targets inside Russia, legit army targets, and worldwide legislation permits us to do that.
Umerov added that the Ukrainian facet would take the paperwork offered by the Russians with a view to examine them within the coming week, previous to a 3rd assembly of their delegations on the finish of this month.
Nevertheless, he added, “we consider that every one the important thing points can solely be solved on the stage of leaders …with the potential involvement of different leaders such because the president of the US.”
Tykhyi added:
If Putin says he is able to meet tomorrow, our president Zelenskyy is able to meet him tomorrow.
Ukraine agreed to return 6,000 our bodies of fallen troopers – defence minister

Ruth Michaelson
Ruth Michaelson is reporting from Istanbul
At the moment’s talks concluded after lower than two hours, even lower than the restricted talks a number of weeks in the past.
Ukrainian defence minister and lead negotiator Rustem Umerov left the Çırağan palace to briefly communicate to the media gathered exterior, telling reporters that the talks have produced a second change of prisoners of conflict, this time specializing in the severely injured and younger folks.
In an extended press convention contained in the palace, Umerov mentioned his staff got here with three agenda gadgets, primarily a ceasefire.
We’re insisting on a full and unconditional finish to the killing now: An unconditional ceasefire, that means air, sea and land for at the least 30 days. This demand has been unchanged for 3 months and we think about it the idea of a peaceable decision.
The second level is the discharge of “all prisoners and all kidnapped kids,” Umerov mentioned. This might be an “all for all” change somewhat than specializing in numbers, that means all significantly wounded and sick prisoners of conflict, in addition to an change of all troopers aged 18-25.
The Ukrainians agreed to return 6,000 our bodies of fallen troopers, he mentioned, whereas offering the Russian facet an inventory of Ukrainian kids kidnapped to Russian territory throughout the conflict.
“This matter is a elementary precedence for us: If Russia is genuinely dedicated to a peace course of, the return of at the least half the kids on this listing is constructive,” Umerov mentioned.
Umerov and deputy international minister Sergiy Kyslytsya each complained that their staff had solely obtained a Russian memo outlining their calls for for an finish to the conflict throughout the assembly, somewhat than beforehand as they demanded.
“We couldn’t react to the Russian proposals as they had been actually solely superior throughout the assembly. However we handle to assemble our dialog in a means that we are able to have a tangible humanitarian consequence,” Kyslytsya mentioned.
“The Russian facet continues to reject the notion of an unconditional ceasefire, the identical one the president of the US supplied some time in the past…the identical unconditional ceasefire our delegation has supplied as soon as once more.”
Ukraine proposes subsequent spherical of Russia talks earlier than finish of June
Ukraine has proposed to carry a subsequent spherical of talks with Russia earlier than the tip of June.
“We suggest to the Russian facet to carry a gathering by the tip of this month, from twentieth to thirtieth of June,” Ukrainian defence minister Rustem Umerov mentioned after right this moment’s talks in Istanbul.
He added that the delegations ought to attempt to agree a gathering between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin.
Zelenskyy last month challenged Putin to fulfill him personally in Istanbul after the Russian president rejected a requirement from Ukraine and European allies to enroll to a 30-day ceasefire.
Putin didn’t flip up. Russia’s delegation was as a substitute headed by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who led right this moment’s talks for Moscow.
Russia rejected provide of unconditional ceasefire at talks – Ukrainian negotiator
Russia rejected an unconditional ceasefire with Ukraine on the talks in Istanbul, a Kyiv negotiator, Sergiy Kyslytsya, mentioned.
“The Russian facet continued to reject the movement of an unconditional ceasefire,” Kyslytsya informed reporters in a press convention after the talks.
Moscow has constantly rejected prolonged ceasefire proposals, arguing they might give Ukraine time to rearm and regroup at a time Russian forces are making battlefield advances.
Prisoner of conflict change will deal with the significantly injured and younger troopers – Ukraine
We talked about in an earlier post that Kyiv expects extra prisoners of conflict will probably be exchanged with Russia after talks concluded with Moscow in Istanbul.
Ukrainian defence minister Rustem Umerov, who led the Ukrainian delegation, mentioned the edges agreed an change of prisoners that may deal with swapping the severely injured and the younger.
Chatting with reporters in Istanbul, Umerov mentioned the stays of useless troopers would even be repatriated as a part of the change, in keeping with Reuters. He additionally mentioned there was dialogue a couple of potential assembly between Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin, probably additionally involving Donald Trump on the finish of June.
As a reminder, on the finish of final month Ukraine and Russia accomplished a “1,000 for 1,000” prisoner swap after three days of exchanges – the most important complete swap of the conflict. This change was agreed within the earlier talks in Istanbul held in Could.
Lithuanian president Gitanas Nauseda spoke simply earlier than Volodymyr Zelenskyy did.
Nausea mentioned Lithuania will probably be spending 4% of GDP on defence this yr and greater than 5% from the following yr to 2030. He says he believes allies will probably be able to “considerably enhance” defence spending amid considerations about Russian aggression spreading past Ukraine.
The Lithuanian president mentioned he expects a recommitment to collective defence on the Nato summit happening within the Netherlands on the finish of the month.
“On the Hague summit we anticipate a message of transatlantic unity, reaffirmed dedication to collective defence and readiness to defend the allied territory,” he mentioned.
The present Nato spending goal on defence is of at the least 2% of GDP, however the alliance’s secretary common, Mark Rutte, has indicated that new benchmark of 5% will probably be introduced quickly.
Zelenskyy: Putin cannot be allowed to resolve who can be a part of Nato as this can solely permit his ‘urge for food for conflict to develop’
Here’s a abstract of what else Zelenskyy mentioned throughout his handle in Vilnius after a summit within the Lithuanian capital:
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He mentioned sanctions in opposition to Russia are “obligatory”, including you will need to “significantly restrict” Russia’s oil commerce and Moscow’s use of tankers.
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“With out stress Putin will simply maintain enjoying video games with everybody who desires this conflict to finish,” the Ukrainian chief mentioned.
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Zelenskyy says he expects extra prisoners of conflict to be freed.
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“The important thing to lasting peace is obvious: the aggressor should not obtain any reward for conflict. Putin should get nothing that may justify his aggression. Any reward would solely present him that conflict pays off.”
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If Putin decides who can and can’t be a part of Nato, then Russia’s “urge for food for conflict” will solely develop, Zelenskyy mentioned, including that the objective ought to be to utterly finish “Russia’s starvation for aggression”.
Second spherical of talks between Kyiv and Moscow in Istanbul have concluded – experiences
We’re seeing experiences from the newswires that the talks between Russia and Ukraine have concluded barely an hour after they started. We had been anticipating them to proceed for for much longer.
The 2 sides had been anticipated to debate their concepts for what a full ceasefire and a long run path to peace ought to seem like amid stress from Donald Trump, who has mentioned the US might abandon its position as a mediator if there isn’t a progress.
Zelenskyy requires ‘a brand new stage of sanctions’ on Russia if Istanbul talks fail
Whereas so-called peace talks have been underway in Turkey, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been talking within the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius following a summit.
He has mentioned extra sanctions on Moscow might deter additional Russian aggression and produce the 2 sides nearer to peace.
Zelenksyy mentioned there should be “a brand new stage of stress, new sanctions – and never simply from Europe” ought to right this moment’s talks in Istanbul fail.
“With out stress, Putin will simply maintain enjoying video games,” the Ukrainian president mentioned, including that Ukraine’s allies should “act in unity”. He requires joint sanctions “on the G7 stage,” together with from Washington.