The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on 2 June that newly published Ukrainian and Russian memorandums highlight how far apart both sides remain after their latest negotiations the same day — with Russia repeating maximalist demands and Ukraine focusing on phased peace efforts and further dialogue.

Ukraine pushes for ceasefire, humanitarian steps, and lasting security

Ukraine’s memorandum, published by Suspilne on 1 June, outlines four core proposals:

• an unconditional ceasefire on land, sea, and in the air;
• confidence-building measures like returning all Ukrainian civilians and children and exchanging prisoners of war;
• a long-term peace agreement with firm security guarantees and full territorial integrity;
• and continued negotiations after the 2 June Istanbul meeting, including preparation for a Zelenskyy-Putin meeting.

Ukraine also insists on the right to join any security alliance, including NATO.

Nothing new: Russia repeats lang-grab recognition, regime-change, disarmament demands

Russia’s memorandum, published by TASS on 2 June, is split into three sections. The first demands Ukrainian recognition of Russia’s control over all of Ukraine’s Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson oblasts, and Crimea — and complete withdrawal from these territories. It also calls for permanent Ukrainian neutrality, cancellation of all military alliances, a total ban on foreign military presence, and strict protections for Russian-speaking populations.

The second section outlines two ceasefire options. The first requires Ukraine to withdraw beyond current front lines in all four oblasts. The second demands Kyiv demobilize, end martial law, cancel all foreign military support and intelligence sharing, and organize presidential elections within 100 days of martial law ending.

The third section proposes a short ceasefire to recover bodies, followed by a 30-day timeline for Ukrainian withdrawal and eventual signing of a peace deal — only after Ukraine forms a new government.

ISW: Russia still aims for total Ukrainian capitulation

ISW notes that these demands are consistent with the Kremlin’s longstanding goals: territorial gains, military and political control over Ukraine, and the installation of a pro-Russian government. As of 2 June 2025, Russia occupies 79.8% of the four contested oblasts, while Ukraine retains around 21,600 square kilometers, including major cities like Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Kramatorsk, Kostiantynivka, and Sloviansk. ISW adds that Russian forces have not shown the ability to capture cities of that scale since early 2022.

“Russian forces have not demonstrated the capacity to seize cities of this size since early 2022, and the Russian military is almost certainly incapable of conducting a successful offensive operation to seize one of these cities after three years of war and degradation,” the think tank wrote.

Child deportation claims briefly raised, dismissed by Russia

ISW also summarizes that Ukraine presented Russia with a list of hundreds of abducted children, which Russia dismissed. Kremlin negotiator Medinsky said the list included 331 names and denied mass abductions. Ukraine has verified the deportation of at least 19,456 children, with only 1,345 returned. Russia’s children’s commissioner previously claimed 700,000 Ukrainian children had been “accepted” by Russia.

Russian delegates call abducted children issue “show for childless European grandmothers”

Kyiv endured its third consecutive night of massive Russian drone attacks, with air raid alerts lasting six hours in the Ukrainian capital.

Timur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, wrote on Telegram that Russian forces struck the capital with attack drones. The assault damaged buildings in the Dniprovsky district, where windows were blown out in one residential building. Debris fell on a garage cooperative and a recreational facility.

“Fortunately, there were no casualties. Thank you to the Defense Forces for their effective work. Thank you to everyone who eliminates the consequences of attacks and helps the residents of the capital,” Tkachenko wrote.

The attack marked the third consecutive massive assault on Ukraine. Russia has conducted its most extensive missile and drone strikes of the full-scale war over the past two days. On the night of 25 May, the Russian army attacked 13 Ukrainian oblasts using dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles plus about 300 drones.

On 24 May, Russia launched a combined strike on Kyiv using ballistic missiles and drones simultaneously. The attack involved 14 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles and 250 attack drones across Ukraine. Air defense destroyed six missiles and neutralized 245 drones. Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said nine ballistic missiles targeted Kyiv specifically.

Russian forces regularly attack Ukrainian oblasts with various weapons including attack drones, missiles, guided bombs, and rocket systems. Russian leadership denies that the army deliberately targets civilian infrastructure during the full-scale war. Ukrainian authorities and international organizations classify these strikes as war crimes by the Russian Federation. They emphasize the attacks have a deliberate nature.

On the night of 26 May, Russia again launched its massive drone attack on several oblasts of Ukraine. Two civilians were injured in a night attack in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast, according to oblast Governor Ivan Fedorov.

Russian army reportedly struck the village of Yurkivka, hitting a private house. The house is destroyed. The blast wave damaged nearby houses and cars. A 60-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man were injured. The victims received necessary medical care, according to Fedorov.

In Odesa Oblast, Russian attack drones destroyed a 100-square-meter residential building overnight on 26 May. The strike caused a fire that rescuers extinguished, according to the regional emergency service.

The attack damaged roofs of residential buildings, an outbuilding, two garages, cars, a fence, and a gas pipeline. At another location, two garages were destroyed and caught fire. A residential building was damaged and a car burned.

A 14-year-old resident of Velykodolynske was injured in the nighttime attack on Odesa Oblast. Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper said the boy sustained various leg wounds. Medics provided assistance on site.

More than 10 explosions occurred in Kharkiv overnight. Governor Oleh Syniehubov said that six settlements in the oblast sustained Russian attack. The shelling in Kupiansk killed an 84-year-old and a 58-year-old woman, injured a 60-year-old man and women aged 76 and 68.

In Khmelnytskyi Oblast, private households and enterprises were damaged. Oblast Governor Serhii Tyurin said there were no casualties preliminarily.