Russia Nears Completion of Peace Memorandum with Ukraine, Thanks Trump for Mediation

MOSCOW — Russia announced Wednesday that it is in the final stages of drafting a peace memorandum with Ukraine, signaling potential progress toward ending the war, now in its fourth year. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that the document “will appear soon,” though he noted no updates from Ukraine’s side on its own preparations.

Peskov confirmed that Moscow is preparing for a new round of direct negotiations with Ukraine and that diplomatic contacts are continuing with the United States. He credited U.S. President Donald Trump with playing a “considerable” role in efforts to reach a peaceful settlement, praising his personal mediation following a recent two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 19. That call resulted in a renewed commitment by Russia and Ukraine to pursue a peace roadmap.

The spokesman said a draft position paper outlining conditions for a potential ceasefire is in development, but refused to disclose its contents, stating that the process should remain confidential. He reaffirmed that Russia, like the United States, will prioritize its national interests throughout the talks.

Although no date has been set for the next negotiation round, the Kremlin emphasized that the “special military operation” will continue in parallel until tangible agreements are reached. Regarding a possible summit between President Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Peskov noted it would only occur once both sides have reached substantive agreements through their respective delegations.