Putin needs no memorandum or negotiations to end war – Kyslytsya

Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergiy Kyslytsya, said this in comments to Ukrinform.

"Endless expert-level conversations don't really interest us. Russia is a country ruled by a dictator who started this war almost single-handedly — albeit with favorable ideological conditions and broad public support — and he can end it as well. That's why we keep emphasizing the need for a leaders' summit. The issues are so complex and multifaceted that people like [Vladimir] Medinsky [who headed the Russian delegation in Istanbul] don't even have the mandate to talk about them," Kyslytsya said.

He added that Ukraine is ready to receive Russia's proposals "once they're ready to present them."

The diplomat declined to comment on Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov's statements about Russia preparing a memorandum with Ukraine, noting, "People like Peskov say one thing today, another tomorrow, and something completely different the day after."

"When dealing with Russians, you can't expect to be in a civilized environment where people genuinely want to hear your arguments and make decisions based on thoughtful analysis. No, we're dealing with the dynamics of a completely irrational dictatorship, where everyone is desperate to prove their loyalty and blindly follows every instruction. Putin started this war, and with a single phone call to his Chief of the General Staff, he could end it," Kyslytsya said.

According to him, it is clear that Putin is deliberately dragging things out, making it difficult to predict when meaningful negotiations might resume.

"The next stage of talks will only happen when the conditions are right on both sides. In the meantime, Ukraine is in constant dialogue with its partners — the president, his office, and the foreign minister are speaking with dozens of international partners every day, because one of the most crucial objectives is maintaining unity, especially among our European allies," the diplomat said.

On May 19, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin held a two-hour phone call. Following the conversation, Putin stated that Russia was ready to work with Ukraine on a "memorandum for a possible future peace agreement," which would outline principles for a settlement, a possible timeline for a peace deal, and a potential temporary ceasefire if corresponding agreements are reached.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded by saying he had no information about the principles Russia intended to include in the memorandum mentioned during the Trump-Putin call.

Photo: Ukrainian Foreign Ministry