Zelensky Proposes New Peace Talks with Russia Amid Ongoing Conflict

In a recent announcement, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine revealed a proposal for a new round of peace discussions with Russia, slated for the following week. This development highlights Ukraine's commitment to ongoing dialogue aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict. During his nightly address on July 19, Zelensky detailed that Rustem Umerov, the newly appointed Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, has reached out to the Russian side to propose a meeting. "Dialogue with the Russian side on prisoner exchanges is ongoing – we are continuing to implement the agreements reached during the earlier meeting in Istanbul," he stated, indicating that efforts are in progress for another exchange. Zelensky has emphasized the urgency of accelerating negotiations, proposing that immediate actions are necessary to attain a ceasefire. He expressed this sentiment, saying, "Prisoner exchanges. Return of children. End to the killings. And a meeting at the level of leaders is needed to truly ensure peace – a really lasting one. Ukraine is ready for such a meeting." This announcement follows a conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Erdogan, during which they reportedly discussed revitalizing peace talks in Istanbul. The two leaders are said to have recognized the importance of resuming negotiations to address the ongoing challenges faced by both nations. Earlier this year, Ukraine and Russia engaged in two rounds of bilateral peace talks in Istanbul, occurring on May 16 and June 2, after a lengthy hiatus of over three years. These discussions led to notable prisoner exchanges; however, no substantial progress toward a ceasefire was achieved during those talks.