Ukraine's Defense Secretary offers Russia next round of talks - Zelenskyy
Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Rustem Umerov has proposed holding a new meeting with Russia as early as next week, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky says in his evening address.
"NSDC Secretary Umerov reported that he proposed the next meeting to the Russian side for next week," the Ukrainian President said.
Zelenskyy emphasized the need to increase the pace of negotiations. In particular, everything must be done to achieve a ceasefire. At the same time, the Russian side must stop hiding from making decisions.
"Prisoner exchange. Return of children. Ending the killings. And we need a meeting at the level of leaders to truly ensure peace - a real, lasting peace. Ukraine is ready for such a meeting," the Ukrainian leader emphasized.
Zelenskyy also stated that discussions with Russia are ongoing. In particular, the agreements from the previous meeting in Istanbul are being implemented, and the Ukrainian team is currently working on another prisoner exchange.
Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia
After US President Donald Trump took office, Washington held a series of hotel-based talks with representatives from Kyiv and Moscow.
During those meetings, the US proposed a complete cessation of hostilities in the war in Ukraine - a proposal that the Ukrainian side accepted, while Russia put forward its own demands.
In May, Ukraine once again proposed an unconditional ceasefire for 30 days, with the possibility of extension.
However, Russian leader Vladimir Putin ignored the offer. Instead, he appeared before the press and proposed the resumption of direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
On May 16, the first direct negotiation process in a long time took place in Istanbul, Türkiye. At that time, the two sides agreed on a prisoner exchange and a number of other humanitarian issues.
Later, during the second round of negotiations, the parties exchanged memoranda outlining conditions for ending the war. However, the positions of both countries remain completely different. Russia continues to demand territories it has failed to capture. Nevertheless, the sides agreed to continue humanitarian initiatives.
In recent days, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia understands only the language of force. Therefore, rearming Ukraine is the key factor that will force Moscow to return to the negotiating table.
