Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that a new round of peace talks with Russia will take place in Istanbul on Wednesday. In his daily address on Monday, Zelensky mentioned his discussions with Rustem Umerov, the chief of the Ukrainian Security Council, regarding preparations for a prisoner exchange and an upcoming meeting with Russian representatives. He noted that the discussions are set for Wednesday.
Zelensky had proposed the peace talks over the weekend, shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump warned Russia of "severe" consequences should there be no ceasefire agreement between Moscow and Kyiv within the next 50 days. Alongside diplomatic pressure, Washington has pledged to provide additional military support to Ukraine as Russian forces have ramped up their assaults.
Moscow has yet to comment on the upcoming peace negotiations. A spokesperson from the Turkish government has confirmed that the discussions will occur in Istanbul, the same location where previous failed negotiations were held in May and June.
This series of talks represents yet another opportunity to halt the ongoing conflict that has persisted for more than three years, coinciding with Trump's expressed dissatisfaction with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The U.S. leader stated to the BBC that while he feels "disappointed," he is "not done" engaging with Putin.
The focus of the Istanbul negotiations may include potential prisoner exchanges and the possibility of a meeting between Zelensky and Putin, according to a senior Ukrainian official in comments to Agence France-Presse. However, the Kremlin has attempted to temper expectations regarding possible outcomes from the talks. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked on Monday that the two parties hold "diametrically opposed" views and emphasized that substantial diplomatic effort is still necessary.
In recent weeks, Russia has increased its drone and missile attacks on Ukraine's urban areas, leading to unprecedented civilian casualties. The full-scale invasion, which commenced in 2022, has spurred ongoing fighting and widespread turmoil in the region.
