Photo : Alexander Ryumin / TASS
Photo : Alexander Ryumin / TASS
By Fleur Elizabeth Philip
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 02 June, The Moscow Times reported that Ukrainian drones attacked the Kursk and Voronezh regions, which resulted in fires in buildings, traffic on the major highways. The Russian Defence Ministry said that the Air Force destroyed a total of 162 Ukrainian drones and 57 aircraft. Falling debris from the building triggered fires in several houses and damaged a lot of infrastructure in Kursk. On the other hand, in the Voronezh region, 16 drones were destroyed, and drone debris cut off the power lines and fell on the M-4 expressway.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 03 June, TASS reported on Russia’s perception, which was discussed in the second round of peace talks in Istanbul. The Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky, submitted a two-part memorandum to Ukraine. Medinsky described the memorandum as elaborated and in detail, and the second part includes a roadmap to long-lasting peace. He added that Russia will hand over 6000 frozen dead bodies and Ukraine will receive them by next week. Russia and Ukraine have agreed on exchanging fewer than 1000 wounded and young soldiers (under 25). They also discussed children. He handed a list containing 339 names, and will consider every case on the list who have lost contact with their parents. Before the meeting, Russia sent over 101 children where whereas Ukraine sent 20. Medinski has proposed a two to three-day ceasefire in certain areas, where they will exchange the dead bodies. Medinsky lastly commented by saying that Ukraine is trying to aggravate the issue by “squeezing a tear.”
On 03 June, BBC reported on the position that Moscow stands that were discussed in the talks. The proposal consists of factors that were demanded by Russia in the previous talks. They include the withdrawal of the Ukrainian military in four partly occupied regions in the southeast, demobilisation of the troops, international recognition of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Crimea. Russia proposed the ban of Ukraine's membership in military alliances, NATO, and the EU, and lastly to lift all sanctions on Russia.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and Europe
On 03 June, TASS reported that the Ukraine delegation's Defence Minister Rustem Umerov proposed a new meeting between 20 to 30 June. He has confirmed their support for the exchange of dead bodies. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Georgy Tykhy said that Kyiv will study the memorandum drafted by Russia and will respond in a week. Umerov handed in their list of children. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about the exchange of memoranda at a NATO conference in Vilnius, Lithuania.
On 03 June, BBC reported that the second round of peace talks did not have breakthroughs, and agreed on swapping more prisoners. Ukrainian negotiators have confirmed that Russia rejects their proposal of an unconditional ceasefire, demanded by Kyiv, Europe, and the US. Both parties have agreed to swap 6000 dead bodies each by next week. Umerov proposes an unconditional ceasefire on land, air, sea, and to stop all killings. He proposed a ceasefire for 30 days and called out Russia for not handing over their proposals before the meeting. The negotiators said that they will take time till the end of June to study the proposals and prepare for direct talks with the two presidents. Zelenskyy in Lithuania stated that there have been no signals from Russia to end the war, accused them of delaying the negotiations, seizing the Ukrainian territory, and called for more sanctions to be imposed on Russia. US President Donald Trump said that he will impose further sanctions if there are no signs of settlements, and is open to a three-way summit with Zelenskyy and Putin.
On 02 June, Euronews reported that following the second round of peace talks, Umerov told the reporters that both parties have agreed on the exchange and will provide further details for the same. This time the focus will lie on those troops who are severely sick and the youth who are below 25. Head of Ukraine’s presidential office Andriy Yermak said that they are to receive several children who were forcibly deported and are held in temporarily occupied territories. He commented by saying that “the ball is in the Russian court.” Zelenskyy, for the peace talks, is focused on the ceasefire, another prisoner exchange, and the return of Ukrainian children who were deported by Russia. So far, Moscow has not mentioned their priorities, following the statements made by it on mentioning the root causes of the war. Russia’s UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said that Moscow would consider a ceasefire only if Ukraine puts a pause on all mobilization and stops receiving foreign aid.
On 02 June, Euronews reported that the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, has drafted a new bill, and is making its way to the US Senate to impose another set of sanctions on Russia. The bill aims to force the Kremlin into serious negotiations for lasting peace in Ukraine. Leyen met with US Senator Lindsey Graham, South Carolina, and Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut have discussed and amassed more than 80 signatures that would convince Trump to move with the plan. This batch of sanctions is to target Russia’s Shadow Fleet, the Nord Stream pipelines, and those countries that buy Russian fossil fuels. The sanctions on the fossil fuels will affect the majority of the EU countries, such as France, Spain, Belgium, and many more that buy Russian liquified natural gas (LNG), and countries like Italy, Greece, Hungary, and Slovakia buy Russian pipeline gas. The bill will spare the countries from a 500 per cent tariff through a one-time waiver, as long as the country maintains its national security interests. Brussels also looks to lower the G7 cap on Russia’s seaborne oil. Leyen stated that a real ceasefire is needed, and the sanctions will bring Russia to the negotiating table. She added that, following the discussions with Graham and Blumethal and the draft proposed by them, the US would impose a set of sanctions on Russia in several sectors, and would impose duties and broad prohibitions on the financial transactions owned by the Kremlin. Graham and Blumenthal have their eyes on China and India, as they are the biggest clients of Russia and could face 500 per cent tariffs.
On 02 June, Ukrinform reported that the countries of the Bucharest Nine and Nordic countries have gathered in Lithuania for the Vilnius Summit, and have come to a conclusion to provide military, economic, and humanitarian support to Ukraine. A joint statement given by the leaders of the Vilnius Summit, where they said that they will support Ukraine, and put them in the strongest position as possible, to attain peace and follow the principles of the UN Charter and International Law. They also discussed the upcoming NATO summit in the Hague.
On 03 June, Moscow Times, 02 June 2025, The Kyiv Independent reported that Zelenskyy, after meeting Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr, announced that Norway will help Ukraine to cover the gas deficit bill of EUR one billion. Zelenskyy added that Russian forces often attack Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leading to power and heat shortages across the country. So far, 34 facilities of Ukrgasvydobuvannya, a state-owned gas producer, have been destroyed.
On 03 June, The Kyiv Independent reported that Umerov called on Russia to provide their proposal at the time of the peace talks, and commented by saying that they are stalling for time. He added by saying that the proposals made by Ukraine were sent much in advance, and Russia sent theirs on the day of the peace talks. He commented by stating that if Russia makes another attempt to delay the peace talks, international sanctions must be imposed.
References
“New swaps, exchanging memorandums: Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul,” TASS, 03 June 2025
“Russia and Ukraine fail again to agree ceasefire but commit to a prisoner swap,” BBC, 03 June 2025
Sascha Vakulina, “Ukraine and Russia agree on new prisoner-of-war exchange as Istanbul talks conclude,” Euronews, 02 June 2025
“Ursula von der Leyen backs 'bone-crushing' US Senate bill to sanction Russia,” Euronews, 02 June 2025
“Bucharest Nine, Nordic countries to continue support of Ukraine,” Ukrinform, 02 June 2025
Olena Goncharova, “Norway to help Ukraine cover 1 billion euro gas shortfall, Zelensky says,” The Kyiv Independent, 03 June 2025
“Russia stalling, staging 'diplomatic show' in peace talks with Ukraine, Umerov says,” The Kyiv Independent, 03 June 2025
“Overnight Ukrainian Drone Attacks on Russia Spark Fires, Disrupt Highway Traffic,” The Moscow Times, 02 June 2025