Russia suggests June 2 peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul

Russia is pushing for another round of direct peace talks with Ukraine, this time in Istanbul on June 2nd

The proposal comes just weeks after a major prisoner swap where both sides exchanged 1,000 captives

Now, Moscow says it's preparing new peace terms. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov shared early details with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio

According to the State Department, Rubio welcomed the exchange and repeated President Trump's message that diplomacy remains the only way forward

But U.S. officials say they're still waiting on Russia to deliver a promised peace memorandum

The next two weeks could decide what happens next. President Trump told reporters he's holding off on new sanctions for now, saying he doesn't want to derail a potential deal

But he also making it clear if Russia is stalling the U could change course Trump says the U is going to quote find out whether or not he tapping us along and if he is we respond a little bit differently

Trump took a sharper tone toward President Putin in recent days, following fresh strikes on Ukrainian cities

He said civilians were killed even as negotiations were underway, calling it, quote, very disappointing

and that Putin was, quote, crazy and playing with fire. Meanwhile, the Kremlin's demands remain steep

Officials familiar with the talks say Putin wants NATO to stop expanding east

partial sanctions relief, and a neutral Ukraine. That's drawn skepticism from Kiev and across Europe

especially since NATO expansion depends on new members wanting to join the alliance voluntarily

Whether the Istanbul talks lead anywhere may hinge on Russia's next move

and how long the U.S. is willing to stay at the table. For more of our unbiased, straight-fact reporting like this

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