Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has announced that work on a memorandum laying the groundwork for a potential peace agreement with Ukraine is nearing completion. Speaking on May 22 during a diplomatic event in Moscow, Lavrov emphasized that Russia is prepared to move forward with negotiations, despite the sensitive political climate and skepticism surrounding certain international mediation efforts – notably, an offer by the Vatican to host future talks.

Lavrov’s comments suggest a shift in Moscow’s tone, as the Kremlin appears more willing to re-engage with Kyiv in a structured diplomatic process. “Yes, we support the idea of talks,” Lavrov stated. “There will be a second round of negotiations. They [the Ukrainian side] have confirmed this. This is already a positive development.”

This confirmation follows a surprise meeting earlier this month in Istanbul, which marked the first direct contact between Ukrainian and Russian delegations since formal talks broke down in 2022. That brief resumption has seemingly yielded enough progress to encourage both parties to prepare for a new phase of discussions.

According to Lavrov, Moscow’s draft memorandum – which outlines principles and a timeline for a future peace treaty – is nearly complete. “I do not know how it is on the other side, but our work is already at an advanced stage,” Lavrov said. “We will hand over this memorandum to the Ukrainians, as we agreed, and we will expect that they will do the same.”

Despite these developments, the specifics of the next meeting – including the date and venue – remain unresolved. “Many people are speculating about........

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