Zelenskyy: Putin cannot be allowed to determine who can be part of Nato as this may solely permit his ‘urge for food for battle 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 towards Russia are “needed”, including it is very important “critically restrict” Russia’s oil commerce and Moscow’s use of tankers.
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“With out strain Putin will simply preserve taking part in video games with everybody who needs this battle to finish,” the Ukrainian chief mentioned.
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Zelenskyy says he expects extra prisoners of battle to be freed.
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“The important thing to lasting peace is evident: the aggressor should not obtain any reward for battle. Putin should get nothing that will justify his aggression. Any reward would solely present him that battle pays off.”
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If Putin decides who can and can’t be part of Nato, then Russia’s “urge for food for battle” will solely develop, Zelenskyy mentioned, including that the aim needs to be to fully finish “Russia’s starvation for aggression”.
Key occasions
Ruth Michaelson
The Ukrainian aspect mentioned little about how a wide-ranging drone strike on targets over 2500 miles from their territory influence negotiations at this time.
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 reliable navy targets inside Russia, reliable navy targets, and worldwide legislation permits us to do that.
Umerov added that the Ukrainian aspect would take the paperwork supplied by the Russians so as 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 each one the important thing points can solely be solved on the stage of leaders …with the doable 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
As we speak’s talks concluded after lower than two hours, even lower than the restricted talks a couple of weeks in the past.
Ukrainian defence minister and lead negotiator Rustem Umerov left the Çırağan palace to briefly converse to the media gathered exterior, telling reporters that the talks have produced a second alternate of prisoners of battle, 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 no less than 30 days. This demand has been unchanged for 3 months and we take into account it the idea of a peaceable decision.
The second level is the discharge of “all prisoners and all kidnapped youngsters,” Umerov mentioned. This could be an “all for all” alternate moderately than specializing in numbers, that means all critically wounded and sick prisoners of battle, in addition to an alternate of all troopers aged 18-25.
The Ukrainians agreed to return 6,000 our bodies of fallen troopers, he mentioned, whereas offering the Russian aspect an inventory of Ukrainian youngsters kidnapped to Russian territory through the battle.
“This matter is a elementary precedence for us: If Russia is genuinely dedicated to a peace course of, the return of no less than half the kids on this listing is optimistic,” 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 battle through the assembly, moderately than beforehand as they demanded.
“We couldn’t react to the Russian proposals as they have been actually solely superior through the assembly. However we handle to assemble our dialog in a approach that we are able to have a tangible humanitarian end result,” Kyslytsya mentioned.
“The Russian aspect continues to reject the notion of an unconditional ceasefire, the identical one the president of the US provided some time in the past…the identical unconditional ceasefire our delegation has provided 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 aspect to carry a gathering by the tip of this month, from twentieth to thirtieth of June,” Ukrainian defence minister Rustem Umerov mentioned after at this time’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 at this time’s talks for Moscow.
Russia rejected supply 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 aspect continued to reject the movement of an unconditional ceasefire,” Kyslytsya instructed 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 battle alternate will give attention to the critically injured and younger troopers – Ukraine
We talked about in an earlier post that Kyiv expects extra prisoners of battle will likely 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 alternate of prisoners that will give attention to swapping the severely injured and the younger.
Chatting with reporters in Istanbul, Umerov mentioned the stays of lifeless troopers would even be repatriated as a part of the alternate, in accordance with Reuters. He additionally mentioned there was dialogue a few potential assembly between Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin, presumably 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 largest whole swap of the battle. This alternate was agreed within the earlier talks in Istanbul held in Might.
Lithuanian president Gitanas Nausea spoke simply earlier than Volodymyr Zelenskyy did.
Nausea mentioned Lithuania will likely be spending 4% of GDP on defence this 12 months and greater than 5% from the subsequent 12 months to 2030. He says he believes allies will likely be able to “considerably improve” defence spending amid issues 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 no less than 2% of GDP, however the alliance’s secretary basic, Mark Rutte, has indicated that new benchmark of 5% will likely be introduced quickly.
Zelenskyy: Putin cannot be allowed to determine who can be part of Nato as this may solely permit his ‘urge for food for battle 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 towards Russia are “needed”, including it is very important “critically restrict” Russia’s oil commerce and Moscow’s use of tankers.
-
“With out strain Putin will simply preserve taking part in video games with everybody who needs this battle to finish,” the Ukrainian chief mentioned.
-
Zelenskyy says he expects extra prisoners of battle to be freed.
-
“The important thing to lasting peace is evident: the aggressor should not obtain any reward for battle. Putin should get nothing that will justify his aggression. Any reward would solely present him that battle pays off.”
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If Putin decides who can and can’t be part of Nato, then Russia’s “urge for food for battle” will solely develop, Zelenskyy mentioned, including that the aim needs to be to fully finish “Russia’s starvation for aggression”.
Second spherical of talks between Kyiv and Moscow in Istanbul have concluded – reviews
We’re seeing reviews from the newswires that the talks between Russia and Ukraine have concluded barely an hour after they started. We have 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 strain from Donald Trump, who has mentioned the US may abandon its function 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 may deter additional Russian aggression and produce the 2 sides nearer to peace.
Zelenksyy mentioned there should be “a brand new stage of strain, new sanctions – and never simply from Europe” ought to at this time’s talks in Istanbul fail.
“With out strain, Putin will simply preserve taking part in 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.
Ukraine says it has handed Russia an inventory of youngsters it needs returned
The Ukrainian president’s chief of workers, Andriy Yermak, has mentioned Ukrainian delegates on the talks in Istanbul have given Russian negotiators an inventory of youngsters Kyiv needs Moscow to return to Ukraine.
EU fee president Ursula von der Leyen met with US Republican senator Lindsey Graham to debate EU-US coordination on sanctions on Russia, the European commission has said in a press release. Right here is a number of the readout:
The president made the target clear: we’d like an actual ceasefire, we’d like Russia on the negotiating desk, and we have to finish this battle. Stress works, because the Kremlin understands nothing else.
For this reason the President welcomed that Senator Graham dedicated to ramping up strain on Russia and shifting forward with the invoice in Senate subsequent week.
The EU is getting ready its 18th bundle of hard-biting sanctions, concentrating on Russia’s power revenues, together with Nord Stream infrastructure, Russia’s banking sector and reducing the crude oil worth cap.
These steps, taken along with US measures, would sharply improve the joint influence of our sanctions, mentioned President von der Leyen.
Graham is co-sponsoring a bipartisan invoice to impose extra sanctions on Russia. Lawmakers – from each the Republican occasion and the Democrats – are anticipated to shortly transfer ahead with a vote on the invoice this week.
Listed here are some extra quotes from Turkey’s international minister Hakan Fidan, who’s chairing the talks between Kyiv and Moscow in Istanbul. He made the feedback simply earlier than the negotiations obtained below approach:
At at this time’s assembly, we’ll proceed to guage the situations and views of the 2 international locations relating to the ceasefire, and purpose to take the method of exchanging prisoners of battle one step additional with humanitarian issues…
We additionally plan to deal with the required preparations for the leaders’ assembly between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
“(US President Donald) Trump’s dedication to ascertain peace has opened a brand new window of alternative,” Fidan added.
Turkish international minister: ‘world’s eyes are on negotiations’ in Istanbul between Russia and Ukraine
Ruth Michaelson
Ruth Michaelson is reporting from Istanbul
Ukrainian defence officers say that talks have lastly begun, nearly two hours after they have been scheduled to start out. Turkish international minister Hakan Fidan, who visited Kyiv and Moscow in preparation for at this time’s talks, kicked off the negotiations by saying “we consider peace is inside attain”.
“In at this time’s assembly we purpose to proceed the evaluation of either side’ situations for a ceasefire, with the purpose of taking additional steps,” he mentioned. Turkish state tv confirmed Ukrainian negotiators in navy fatigues sitting reverse their dark-suited Russian counterparts as he spoke.
The Russian and Ukrainian negotiators had exchanged memos outlining their respective visions for a ceasefire, he mentioned including: “This exhibits their will to alternate views at this time.”
Turkish officers are hoping to foster belief between the negotiating groups, regardless of Ukrainian issues that Moscow has now repeatedly despatched a staff composed of deputy ministers and aides with little negotiating energy, meant to behave as a messenger service for Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Fidan hailed US president Donald Trump’s religion within the talks regardless of Trump’s earlier statements that solely a gathering between him and Putin is prone to carry actual change.
The international minister was flanked by intelligence chief İbrahim Kalin, who has beforehand described Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as “illegal,” including that Russia’s makes an attempt to annex Ukrainian territory as “unlawful.”
Washington has indicated in latest weeks that it’s searching for a deal that might see each Russia and Ukraine “freeze the territorial traces at some stage near the place they’re at this time,” in accordance with vice-president JD Vance. This has include little readability for what this might imply for the standing of the Crimean peninsula, illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.
Outdoors the plush carpeted negotiation rooms of the Çırağan palace, tankers cruising alongside the Bosphorus are a reminder of the broader implications of the battle. As negotiators spoke, a number of container ships and one other carrying oil sailed alongside the Bosphorus, certain for Russian territory. Ukraine has demanded that western nations step up sanctions on Russia, together with concentrating on its oil business, ought to Moscow proceed to show reluctant to have interaction in negotiations.
Fidan mentioned Turkey is searching for “a sustainable peace,” including: “These talks will determine our frequent destiny. The world’s eyes are on negotiations right here.”
Turkey’s authorities has issued handout pictures from Istanbul of the Russian and Ukrainian delegations which might be assembly now for direct talks.
Second spherical of direct talks between Ukraine and Russia start in Istanbul
Hakan Fidan, the international minister of Turkey, has mentioned that he’s glad {that a} second spherical of direct talks has began between Ukrain and Russia. The talks are being hosted in Istanbul. Fidan mentioned the purpose is to debate the ceasefire necessities of either side. He added that it was essential that the US was contributing to the peace course of, and mentioned he was positive the talks would carry concrete outcomes.
Extra particulars quickly …
Reuters has a fast snap {that a} Ukrainian ministry of defence official has instructed the information company that the talks in Istanbul are starting.
Nordic, Baltic and central European Nato members are dedicated to Ukrainian membership of the navy alliance, the leaders of Poland, Romania and Lithuania mentioned in a joint assertion after a summit of the B9 and Nordic international locations on Monday, Reuters reviews.
Russia’s navy advance in Ukraine picked up velocity within the spring – evaluation
Reporters from the Agence France-Presse (AFP) information company have completed some fascinating evaluation of information from the US-based Institute for the Examine of Warfare (ISW), which tracks battlefield developments within the battle. Here’s what AFP’s evaluation discovered:
The Russian military took 507 sq. kilometres in Might 2025, towards 379 sq. kilometres in April and 240 sq. kilometres in March.
In Might 2025, the Russian advance was centered once more on the japanese Donetsk area, which accounted for almost 400 sq. kilometres. Ukrainian troops didn’t recapture any territory in Might.
Over the previous 12 months Russian troops have superior in Ukraine, which has not managed to retake misplaced territory.
From June 2024 to Might 2025 Russia gained a complete of 5,107 sq. kilometres (lower than one % of Ukrainian territory earlier than the battle), whereas Ukrainian forces solely regained 85 sq. kilometres.
On the finish of Might, Russia managed both wholly or partially almost 19 % of Ukrainian territory earlier than the battle, together with Crimea and THE Donbas.
German chancellor Friedrich Merz will push for a “truthful ceasefire” in Ukraine throughout his first in-person assembly with Donald Trump in Washington on Thursday, in accordance 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 issues over US safety commitments to Europe.
“The federal government’s aims are clear and the chancellor will do all the things in his energy to foyer the US president for a good ceasefire, together with with the specter of sanctions,” the German spokesperson instructed reporters in Berlin on Monday.
Merz is conscious of a push for harder sanctions towards Russia by US senator Lindsey Graham however wouldn’t intervene in US home politics, the spokesperson added.
For context: Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, has mentioned the laws, which had 82 cosponsors, would impose “bone-breaking sanctions” on Russia and its clients.
To turn out to be legislation, the measure should go the Senate and Home of Representatives and be signed by Trump, who has recently expressed anger towards Vladimir Putin over Russia’s heavy missile and drone attacks on Ukraine during ceasefire negotiations.
