Russia offers Ukraine two options for ceasefire: text of memorandum made public

The Russian memorandum on the Ukrainian settlement contains two options for a cease-fire, RIA Novosti and RT, which have obtained the document, have reported.

The first one envisages the withdrawal of the AFU from the Russian territories occupied by Ukraine, including the DPR, LPR, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson regions.

The second (a package proposal) contains clauses banning the redeployment of troops, stopping mobilization and supplies of foreign military aid to Kiev.

This option also envisages the start of demobilization, the exclusion of the military presence of third countries, and the abolition of martial law in Ukraine.

In addition, the package proposal envisages holding elections in Ukraine no later than 100 days after the lifting of martial law.

The memorandum also contains a clause banning military activities of other states in Ukraine. It also envisages the nuclear-free status of Ukraine, setting a limit on the number of the AFU, lifting the economic sanctions imposed on Russia, mutual renunciation of claims in connection with the damage caused by military operations, ensuring the rights and freedoms of the Russian-speaking population, lifting restrictions on the activity of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and banning the glorification of Nazism.

The talks between Russia and Ukraine took place on June 2 in Istanbul and lasted for more than an hour. The Russian delegation was headed by Vladimir Medinsky and included Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, the chief of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff's GRU, Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin. The Ukrainian side was represented by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

As Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier, the memorandum handed over to Kiev reflects Russia's approach to “reliably overcoming the root causes of the crisis”.

The first round of direct dialog was held in Istanbul on May 16 at the initiative of President Vladimir Putin. At that time, the sides declared their intention to present their positions on the ceasefire and agreed on a large-scale exchange of prisoners according to the “1,000 for 1,000” formula, which was implemented from May 23 to 25.

Reprinted from https://am.sputniknews.ru/