Russia proposed a short, two to three-day ceasefire to allow both sides to retrieve the bodies of fallen soldiers. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Kyiv rejected this proposal.
“I believe this is simply a gross mistake on the part of the regime in Kyiv,” Lavrov said.
Despite the stalemate, Russia’s top negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, confirmed that Moscow is prepared to proceed with a large-scale prisoner exchange agreed upon in Istanbul, scheduled for June 7 to 9. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that the first phase would commence this weekend.
Zelenskyy has dismissed Russia’s ceasefire proposal as an ultimatum and reiterated his call for direct talks with Putin, emphasizing the need for a ceasefire ahead of any potential summit involving US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
While diplomatic efforts continue, both sides remain entrenched in their positions, with little indication of a breakthrough in the near future.
