Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Monday, July 21, that a new round of peace talks with Russia is scheduled for next Wednesday, as efforts continue to bring an end to the ongoing war between the two nations.
“I’ve spoken with the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umerov, about preparations for a possible prisoner exchange and a new meeting with the Russian side in Turkey. According to Umerov, the talks are set for Wednesday,” Zelensky stated in his daily address shared on social media.
So far, the two previous rounds of negotiations held in Istanbul — pushed forward under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump — have yielded minimal progress, focusing mainly on the exchange of prisoners and the repatriation of fallen soldiers.
During the last session in June, Moscow reiterated a series of demands: recognition of the annexation of Crimea, the surrender of four additional regions, Ukraine’s withdrawal from receiving Western military aid, and the abandonment of its aspirations to join NATO. Kyiv flatly rejected what it described as “ultimatums” and questioned Moscow’s genuine willingness to pursue a ceasefire.
Nevertheless, the Kremlin has expressed its readiness to continue negotiations, especially after Trump gave a 50-day deadline to reach an agreement that could halt both aerial and ground combat.
