Meeting in Istanbul: Zelenskyy: New negotiations with Russia on Wednesday

Negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow are staging again, and representatives of both sides plan to meet in Turkey on Wednesday. A ceasefire, however, will not be an issue then.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine and Russia plan to resume direct talks this Wednesday in Istanbul. However, the talks will not be about a ceasefire or an end to the war, Zelensky said at a meeting with Ukrainian diplomats. For Kyiv, the goal is to promote the return of prisoners of war and children abducted by Russia to Ukraine, as well as to prepare for a meeting at the presidential level.

There was initially no official confirmation from Russia about the new talks, although Moscow had long been pushing for a new date in Istanbul. The Russian state news agency Tass, citing an unnamed source, named Thursday as the date.

In his video message, Zelensky said he had discussed preparations for a prisoner exchange and a further meeting with the Russian side in Turkey with the Ukrainian chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov. Umerov reported that the meeting was planned for Wednesday. "It is clear to everyone that truly effective talks can only take place at the level of heads of state," Zelensky said on X, explaining his desire to prepare a presidential-level meeting. In mid-May, he had already traveled to Turkey in vain in anticipation of a meeting with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin.

First round of talks resulted in prisoner exchange

The Kremlin has so far rejected direct negotiations between the presidents, arguing that such talks would require thorough preparation to produce results. The necessary conditions must first be created at the lower level.

In the first two rounds of direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow in May and June, both sides agreed on a large-scale prisoner exchange and the return of fallen soldiers. However, a ceasefire, demanded by the United States, among others, has not yet been achieved. Zelenskyy proposed to Moscow over the weekend that new negotiations be held later this week.

So far, Russia has shown no real willingness to agree to a ceasefire. Moscow is making maximum demands for an end to the invasion, which Kyiv categorically rejects. Among the Russian conditions are Kyiv's renunciation of NATO membership and recognition of the territories annexed by Moscow.

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy announced new attacks on targets in Russia. "If (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is so crazy about the Shahed drones and terror, then we have to take away his logistics," Zelenskyy said. To do this, Ukraine also needs more air defense systems to protect larger parts of the country from Russian drones and missiles.