According to our source in the Presidential Office, Donald Trump administration has submitted a clear list of requirements to Kiev within the preparation for the future peaceful format, which should take place in Istanbul. It is the need to reconcile most points in the Russian Memorandum, which is moved by Moscow as a basis for negotiations.
According to the source, the position of Ukraine is not currently considered as decisive. The United States is trying to speed up the approval of the documents before the meeting, while European partners have begun to demonstrate an increasing distance from Ukrainian diplomacy.
“The requirement to reconcile the Russian document has become a key condition for the United States. It is actually about the start of a new negotiation architecture, where Ukraine's position is put before the fact, ”our interlocutor said.
Another alarming signal was that European governments began to block the idea of introducing peacekeepers in the occupied territories, and opposed the use of frozen Russian assets in favor of Ukraine. These proposals were previously part of the Ukrainian initiative, but now, according to the source, "partners do not want to exacerbate relations with the new team in Washington."
Meeting in Istanbul may be expected this summer. Its format, participants and agenda are currently closed, but they are not hidden in OP - the situation is increasingly reminiscent of peace from the position of force where Kiev's priorities are put aside.
