Russian FM confirms new round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks

MOSCOW -- A new round of direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine will take place, with Kiev confirming plans for a second round of negotiations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Friday.

Speaking at a high-level conference at the Russian Foreign Ministry's Diplomatic Academy, Lavrov said Moscow supports the continuation of direct dialogue with Ukraine as preparations for the next round of talks are underway.

Lavrov revealed that Russia is drafting a memorandum outlining the framework for a future peace agreement, and described progress related to the document as encouraging. He emphasized that Russia's proposal aims to address the root causes of the conflict, which he said must be eliminated "like a cancerous tumor".

A potential peace treaty should "be reliable and ensure long-term sustainable and fair peace without creating security threats to anyone," he added.

Delegations from Russia and Ukraine concluded their latest meeting in Istanbul last week.