Russia showed the "memorandum" it provided to Ukraine in Istanbul: what's in it

Moscow's maximalist demands have not changed

Russia's main propaganda agencies TASS and RIA Novosti have published the text of a "memorandum" that the Russian delegation allegedly handed to Ukraine in Istanbul. The text again contains territorial claims, demands for disarmament and a neutral status for Ukraine.

The Russian Federation calls its radical encroachments "the main parameters of the final settlement." Here is a list of them:

→ international legal recognition of the occupied territories and the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the regions that Moscow illegally included in the constitution;

→ Ukraine's neutrality – a ban on joining military alliances or coalitions (obviously, NATO) and on any military activity of third countries on its territory (including the deployment of contingents);

→ limitations on the size of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations of Ukraine by types and weapons systems established "on the basis of mutual agreements";

→ demands to ensure "rights" for Russian-speakers and Russians, traditional theses on the prohibition of "the glorification and propaganda of Nazism and neo-Nazism... including Russophobia", as well as the lifting of restrictions on the Moscow Patriarchate;

→ waiver of mutual claims in connection with losses incurred in hostilities;

→ resolving a range of issues related to family reunification and displaced persons;

→ ensuring the rights and freedoms, as well as the conditions for conducting economic activities of Russian individuals and legal entities in Ukraine;

→ gradual restoration of diplomatic and economic relations (including gas transit), transport and other communications, in particular with third countries.

The invaders also "offer" two options for a ceasefire: the first requires the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from four Ukrainian regions.

Under the second option, Moscow wants, in particular, a withdrawal and ban on the movement of Ukrainian troops, a cessation of mobilization and military aid, and even the lifting of martial law and the announcement of a date for presidential and parliamentary elections within the next 100 days. This option also requires Kyiv to sign an agreement on the implementation of the aforementioned "basic parameters."

The last section of this "memorandum" mentions that Moscow wants to sign a final "peace treaty" only after the elections in Ukraine.

The American media outlet Axios, citing an unnamed Ukrainian official, stated that the Russian Federation's position in the memorandum remained unchanged, and that the document contains demands for the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Ukrainian territory.

In general, the Russian position has not changed, and its "memorandum" does not fully correspond to the Ukrainian document published the day before by Suspilne.

Ukraine did not see the text of the Russian "memorandum" before the meeting in Istanbul, while Kyiv provided Moscow with its document in advance. The parties will study each other's memoranda for a week.

• The new Istanbul talks lasted a little over an hour, during which Ukraine and Russia agreed to hold a new exchange of prisoners and 6,000 bodies of those killed on both sides.
• The head of the Russian delegation, Medinsky, stated that a temporary ceasefire would be established on some sections of the frontline to collect the bodies of the dead. This provision is in the "memorandum" published by Russian propaganda. Zelenskyy said that in this way Moscow wants to postpone sanctions.
• At the same time, Moscow again refused an unconditional ceasefire despite Kyiv's proposals.
• Head of the OP Yermak reported that during the meeting in Istanbul, Ukraine handed over to Russia a list of illegally deported Ukrainian children who need to be returned. The head of the Russian delegation has already managed to "mark" himself with a cynical statement on this issue. Ukrainian sources Axios reported that Moscow offered to return only 10 Ukrainian children by July 10.