Kyiv Proposes Moscow to Resume Peace Talks Next Week

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that they have proposed to Russia’s Moscow to start a new round of peace talks next week to resume the stalled negotiations from early June this year.

Last month, two rounds of talks between Moscow and Kyiv were held in Istanbul, Turkey, but no permanent ceasefire was agreed upon. However, the talks resulted in a significant prisoner exchange and the return of bodies of fallen soldiers.

In a nighttime address, Zelenskyy stated, “National Security Council Secretary Rustem Umerov has proposed a follow-up meeting with Russia next week.” He also added, “It is urgent to accelerate the pace of negotiations.”

Zelenskyy again expressed readiness for a direct face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “A leadership-level meeting is necessary to truly ensure lasting peace,” he said.

Umerov, appointed last week as the head of the National Security and Defense Council, has been tasked with revitalizing the negotiations.

Russia continues a heavy military operation in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. Though Moscow has repeatedly expressed readiness for new talks, it has not moved away from its strong demands in the war. In last month’s talks, Russia presented harsh conditions, including Ukraine ceding more territory and rejecting Western military aid.

Kyiv has rejected these demands as unacceptable and questioned the point of negotiations if Moscow does not relent.

Recently, the Kremlin stated that following US President Donald Trump’s 50-day ultimatum to implement a peace deal or sanctions, they are prepared for talks.

Meanwhile, the United States has pledged to provide Kyiv with new military assistance through NATO partners, as Russian air raids increasingly damage Ukrainian cities.