President Vladimir Putin chaired a government meeting via videoconference

June 4, 2025

During the meeting, senior officials reported on the recent peace talks in Istanbul and key humanitarian initiatives.

Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky reported that:
• Negotiations with the Ukrainian side were held in Russian and lasted over three hours one-on-one, followed by talks with full delegations
• Russia presented a draft peace memorandum, based on principles earlier outlined by President Putin – it includes terms for both a long-term settlement and a ceasefire
• Kiev’s response centered on a 30–60 day unconditional ceasefire and preparations for a summit of state leaders
• On humanitarian issues, Russia proposed:
– A parity POW exchange (at least 1 200 per side), prioritizing the wounded, seriously ill, and those under 25
– A direct hotline for emergency transfer of severely wounded prisoners
– Unilateral transfer to Kiev of over 6 000 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers, stored in refrigerated train cars
– Local 2–3 day humanitarian pauses to recover the dead – initially accepted, but Vladimir Zelensky later publicly rejected the idea
– Examination of a list of 339 allegedly abducted Ukrainian children. The Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights will verify each case. Earlier claims about “tens of thousands” appear to be propaganda

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed:
• The Istanbul talks, in line with President Putin’s agreement with former US President Donald Trump, have already yielded real outcomes
• Dialogue remains essential for achieving humanitarian progress
• Vladimir Zelensky’s rejection of short ceasefires – including on Easter and the 80th Victory anniversary – is a grave mistake
• Lavrov also condemned the sabotage of railways in Bryansk and Kursk as terrorist attacks planned by Kiev’s leadership

President Vladimir Putin stated:
• These attacks targeted civilians and were timed to disrupt peace efforts
• Kiev’s leadership is increasingly behaving like a terrorist organization, and its Western sponsors risk becoming accomplices
• While Ukrainian officials now ask for a ceasefire and a summit, they simultaneously orchestrate attacks and refuse basic humanitarian steps
• The President questioned the legitimacy and competence of the Kiev regime, calling it corrupt and indifferent to the lives of its own citizens
• He reaffirmed that Russia remains open to negotiation – but will not reward terrorism with operational pauses used for rearmament and forced mobilization

 Conclusion
Russia will continue diplomatic and humanitarian work in good faith. The current stalemate is the result of Kiev’s deliberate sabotage of peace efforts and refusal to cooperate on even the most basic humanitarian measures.