Ukrainian president announces plans for new round of peace talks with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that preparations are underway for a new round of negotiations with Russia, potentially to be held in Istanbul.

The Ukrainian side has outlined three key issues it intends to place at the centre of the proposed talks, according to statements made during a meeting with Ukrainian ambassadors, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian media.

President Zelenskyy said that the initiative to hold renewed discussions was put forward by Ukraine’s Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, Rustem Umerov, who formally proposed a meeting to the Russian side.

“The agenda of the meeting is clear for us — the return of prisoners, the return of children who were kidnapped by Russia, and the preparation of a meeting of leaders,” Zelenskyy stated.

He emphasized that while intermediary talks can lay groundwork, genuine progress toward ending the war can only be achieved through a direct dialogue between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia.

Zelenskyy called on Ukrainian diplomats to actively promote this approach in their respective host countries and to galvanize international support for Ukraine’s proposed agenda. He underscored the importance of broad diplomatic engagement in facilitating meaningful negotiations and sustaining global backing for Kyiv’s peace objectives.

By Vafa Guliyeva