Nebenzya: Russia determined to continue direct talks with Ukraine, proposes meeting in Istanbul on June 2

NEW YORK. May 30 (Interfax) - The peace initiatives of the Russian leadership, which is committed to continuing direct negotiations with Ukraine, are clear and obvious, Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya said at a UN Security Council meeting.

"We are determined to continue this serious direct negotiation process with Ukraine after it was cut short by Ukraine in April 2022 [...] It should result in a solution that would reliably eliminate the root causes of the Ukraine conflict and threats to our country's security. [...] The Ukrainian side has been invited to meet in Istanbul on June 2 to discuss the contents of our memoranda with approaches to the negotiation process," Nebenzya said.

"As long as Kiev tries to drag out the war and provoke Russia by delivering strikes on residential and civilian infrastructure," Russia will continue to destroy facilities that are part of Ukraine's military potential, he said.