Kremlin: Can't set deadline for peace memorandum with Ukraine
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the process for Moscow and Kiev to develop a unified text on a peace and ceasefire memorandum would be very complicated and therefore there could be no fixed deadline. This information was published by Russian news agencies early on May 20.
"There are no deadlines and there cannot be any. It is clear that everyone wants to do this as quickly as possible, but, of course, the devil is in the details," state news agency RIA quoted Peskov as telling reporters.
The Kremlin spokesman further explained the expected process: "The draft will be developed by both the Russian and Ukrainian sides, these drafts will be exchanged, and then complex contacts will be held to develop a single text."
The statement came after US President Donald Trump on May 19 had phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and leaders of the European Union, France, Italy, Germany and Finland in an effort to promote peace in the three-year conflict in Ukraine.
After the phone calls, Mr. Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine would immediately begin ceasefire negotiations. For his part, President Putin said that Russia was "ready to work with the Ukrainian side on a memorandum of understanding on a possible future peace agreement."
