Zelenskyy orders new delegation for negotiations with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has instructed the creation of a new delegation to resume talks with Russia.

The group will be led by new Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council (NSDC) Rustem Umerov, who previously headed Ukraine’s negotiation team, Caliber.Az reports. 

In a statement posted on his Telegram channel, Zelenskyy said the delegation would include representatives from Ukraine’s intelligence services, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Office of the President.

The upcoming Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Istanbul on July 23–24, 2025, represent a pivotal moment in diplomatic efforts to address the ongoing conflict.

This third round of negotiations, scheduled to take place at the Çırağan Palace, follows previous discussions in June that resulted in limited agreements, including prisoner exchanges and the return of deceased soldiers. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Rustem Umerov, the Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, to lead Ukraine's delegation. The team will also include representatives from Ukraine's military intelligence, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the President’s Office. 

Key issues on the agenda include securing the return of prisoners of war and abducted children, as well as exploring potential pathways to a ceasefire. President Zelenskyy has emphasised that Ukraine never desired the war and that it is Russia's responsibility to end the conflict it initiated.

By Aghakazim Guliyev