Lavrov: Russia to present ceasefire terms after prisoner exchange

This statement was made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, according to Radio Svoboda, Ukrinform reports.

“We are actively working on the second part of the agreements, which provides for the preparation by each of the parties of a draft document setting out the conditions for achieving a sustainable, long-term, comprehensive settlement agreement. As soon as the exchange of prisoners of war is completed, we will be ready to hand over to the Ukrainian side a draft of such a document, which the Russian side is currently finalizing,” he said.

According to Lavrov, the Russian side is currently “finalizing the preparatory work on drawing up a list for the exchange of prisoners of war on a thousand-for-thousand basis.”

Lavrov reiterated that Moscow “remains committed to a peaceful settlement” and “is always open for negotiations.”

As reported by Ukrinform, on May 23, 390 prisoners were returned to Ukraine as part of the first part of the “1000 for 1000” exchange. The exchange is expected to continue on Saturday and Sunday.

Commenting on Russia's delay in handing over the list of its conditions, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called it “a mockery of the whole world” that the Russians have been formulating a “so-called ‘memorandum’ of their conditions for a ceasefire for a week.