Ukraine prepares military groundwork for next round of talks with Russia

"I held an extended meeting with the military: Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi, Chief of the General Staff Hnatov, all intelligence agencies, the Defense Ministry. We discussed the frontline situation, our prospects, and the actions we are preparing. We also talked about the military groundwork for diplomacy — the next technical meeting. We’re working to make it happen as soon as possible," Zelenskyy said.

He noted that Ukraine’s interest is not to prolong the war but to be prepared for any possible developments.

"It’s obvious to the world that it is Russia’s fault the war is still ongoing. Ukraine is ready for swift, concrete steps - a real ceasefire and the establishment of a new security architecture. For our part, we are working on everything," the President added.

Zelenskyy emphasized that a mirror readiness from Russia is needed, but right now, it’s not there. And without global pressure, that won’t change.

"We are doing our part to apply pressure, most importantly, through our defense and active operations. I thank all our warriors for their resilience and real results. And thank you, guys, for the long-range strikes," the head of state noted

Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia

The first round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia took place on May 16 in Istanbul. During the meeting, the parties agreed to a large exchange of prisoners in the 1000-for-1000 format and to continue negotiations on a ceasefire.

Recently, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is already discussing with its partners the possibility of holding a new round of talks.

According to him, three locations are currently being considered for such a meeting: Istanbul, the Vatican, or Switzerland. At the same time, Ukraine insists on the highest possible level of representation from all delegations.