Moscow is ready to submit a draft memorandum on peace to Kyiv in the near future, which will determine the key provisions of a potential agreement, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on Tuesday.
"Russia is still working on a draft memorandum on a future peace treaty, setting out a range of positions, including the terms of a settlement, the timing of any potential peace agreement, a potential ceasefire," Zakharova said at her weekly press briefing.
She went on to say that after completion, the memorandum will be sent to Kyiv. Russia anticipates that Ukraine should also be working on its draft to be returned at the same time, as per Xinhua news agency reports.
"We hope that the Ukrainian side is doing the same work and will send us its progress at the same time as receiving the Russian document," Zakharova said.
Pointing out the challenges in the process, Zakharova termed the current negotiations in the wake of direct Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul last month as "difficult" because of Kyiv's position. She blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for trying to impede the "emerging peaceful progress."
In a telephone conversation last week, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed that Russia would draw up a draft memorandum with terms for a possible peace agreement with Ukraine.
On May 19, the two leaders engaged for more than two hours, talking about attempts toward a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war. Putin shared in the course of conversation that Moscow is prepared to offer and work with Kyiv on a peace memorandum.
Ukrainian President Zelensky replied that the two nations may sign a memorandum with ceasefire clauses. Although the contents of the document are not made known, Kyiv will work on its position after receiving Russia's draft.
Zakharova also made a statement regarding President Trump's recent declaration of the "Golden Dome" missile defense system, denouncing the project as a challenge to strategic stability.
"This is a risky strategy, it directly challenges the pillars of strategic stability," she stated, adding that the initiative, which is focused on increasing military capabilities in space, worsens the situation.
She said that such an approach essentially makes space a battlefield for armed conflict and deployment of weapons.
Zakharova noted that both Russia and China are close on this and a number of other key strategic matters. Nevertheless, she explained that it is not possible at the moment to renew dialogue with the US regarding these issues because the conditions are lacking.
In response to recent statements by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz about the removal of the range limits for weapons provided to Ukraine, Zakharova disparaged Berlin's stance.
She said that Germany will merely "pursue itself further into the hole into which the Kyiv regime it is backing has long been."
Zakharova challenged Merz's right to represent other nations, pointing out that the Chancellor had been referring to decisions allegedly taken by France, Britain, and the US.
She accused Merz of "playing with the fate of Europe, at the very least," and accused him of using the issue for "self-promotion."
As of now, Chancellor Merz has not issued a response to Zakharova’s statements.
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