President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday evening that Ukraine is proposing peace talks with Russia next week.
Zelensky announced in a video published on his Facebook page that Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s new Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council and until earlier this week the Secretary of Defense, has proposed a meeting with Russian negotiators next week.
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Two rounds of talks in Istanbul between Moscow and Kyiv have thus far failed to result in any progress toward even a semblance of a ceasefire. In fact, the air attacks from both sides have stepped up.
The talks did, however, yield large-scale prisoner exchanges and deals to return the bodies of soldiers killed.
“The conversation with the Russian side regarding the [prisoner] exchanges is ongoing – we continue to fulfill the agreements of the previous meeting in Istanbul. The team is currently working on another exchange,” Zelensky said.
According to president, Umerov reported that he had proposed the next meeting with the Russian side next week. Zelensky stressed that the negotiation dynamics must be increased and everything must be done to achieve a ceasefire.
“The Russian side needs to stop hiding from decisions. Exchange of prisoners. Return of children. Stop the killings. And a meeting at the level of leaders is needed to really ensure peace – a truly lasting one. Ukraine is ready for such a meeting,” the President emphasized.
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The Russian side has yet to respond.