MOSCOW, June 1. /TASS/. Ukraine has agreed on a phased lifting of the anti-Russian sanctions, the Obshchestvennoye. Novosti news outlet said, citing Ukraine’s memorandum drafted for the June 2 talks with Russia in Istanbul.
"Sanctions: some of the restrictions may be lifted off Russia, but in phases and only gradually," the Ukrainian memorandum says. However, Kiev thinks it expedient to elaborate a mechanism to re-impose sanctions, if necessary.
The Ukrainian memorandum also says that Kiev will not undertake to be neutral, with no limits set for its armed forces’ strength. Kiev’s NATO membership will depend on the consensus within the Alliance. No restrictions are to be imposed on either the strength, deployment and other parameters of Ukraine’s defense or the deployment of friendly foreign countries’ troops in Ukraine, the document says.
Apart from that, Ukraine insists on an unconditional ceasefire for at least 30 days, exchange of prisoners of war in the all for all format, and on being given security guarantees for which ends it suggests that the "international community" be engaged in the talks. The starting point, according to Ukraine, is to be the combat engagement line.
Kiev expresses readiness to continue talks after the June 2 meeting in Istanbul, but thinks that they are to be focused on a complete and unconditional ceasefire, its terms and monitoring, as well as agreeing an agenda for future talks between the two countries’ leaders. These talks, according to Kiev, are supposed to yield an agreement on cessation of hostilities, territorial matters, Ukraine’s restoration, and the procedure for signing a final peace agreement, and sanctions for its violation.
The second round of Russian-Ukrainian talks is expected to be held in Istanbul on June 2. The previous round took place on May 16.
According to Reuters, which also received Ukraine’s draft memorandum, said earlier that it differs little from the terms Ukraine set at the May 16 talks.