Russia is not signaling any intention to cease fire, pressure must be increased, — Zelenskyy

"There was just a detailed report from Ukraine’s Defense Minister Umerov and military commanders regarding the front lines and our defensive relations with partners. Russian assault operations continue, and our forces are maintaining all necessary combat activities. The most intense situation is in the Donetsk region, especially the Pokrovsk direction," Zelenskyy said.

He also stated that the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue active operations in the Kursk and Belgorod regions.

"This is the defense of Sumy region, the defense of Kharkiv region, an active and effective defense. Since the start of the Kursk operation in August, the Russian army has suffered serious losses — more than 63,000 killed and wounded just there, in the Kursk region. Our forces have also managed to significantly replenish Ukraine’s exchange fund," the president added.

He noted that the more combat operations are carried out on enemy territory, the more it protects Ukrainian communities.

"Unfortunately, the Russians are not giving any signals about a ceasefire and are not yet ready to end the war. Therefore, all our forms of pressure, all our work with partners to pressure Russia — this is absolutely necessary. Pressure convinces. Pressure on the battlefield. Pressure in the economy, and this is exactly why sanctions exist. Pressure in politics. I want to thank everyone who supports Ukraine," Zelenskyy emphasized.

Ukraine-Russia negotiations

On May 16 in Istanbul, Türkiye, the first direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia took place in over three years of full-scale war.

At the meeting, the delegation from Moscow presented maximalist demands. According to media reports, the Kremlin representatives demanded:

• Ukraine’s "neutrality,"

• rejection of reparations,

• rights for Russian-speaking people,

• "recognition" of the occupation of Ukrainian territories,

• withdrawal of the Ukrainian army from several regions of Ukraine for an immediate ceasefire.

The Russian side effectively refused to agree to a 30-day ceasefire, which had been, among others, a US initiative and which Kyiv agreed to about two months ago. The delegations from Russia and Ukraine only agreed on a prisoner exchange format of one thousand for one thousand.

As President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently said, Ukraine is currently discussing with partners the possibility of new negotiations with Russia. The head of state noted that three countries are being considered as locations for this: Türkiye, the Vatican, and Switzerland.