Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that a new round of talks with Moscow will be held in Turkey on July 23, as the West increases pressure on the Kremlin to agree to a ceasefire, even as Russian military forces continue to carry out deadly attacks in Kiev and other Ukrainian cities.
"Today I discussed with Rustem Umerov preparations for the prisoner exchange and another meeting with the Russian side in Turkey," Zelensky said in his daily address on July 21, referring to the new head of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council.
"Umerov reported that the meetings are scheduled to be held on July 23," the Ukrainian president said, without giving further details.
Umerov has previously held the position of Defense Minister and led two rounds of meetings with Russia.
Two days ago, Zelensky said he had sent Moscow an offer for new rounds of talks in the coming weeks, as meetings held last month failed to result in progress towards peace.
He said that everything must be done to achieve a ceasefire.
"The Russian side must end its hiding from decision-making."
If the parties meet in Turkey, it will be their first meeting in seven weeks. The Turkish government has said the talks will take place in Istanbul.
The Kremlin has not confirmed the date or location of the new round of talks, saying only that it is awaiting more details and that the two sides continue to have "diametrically opposed" positions on how they see the conflict ending.
The Kremlin has said it welcomes the talks, but that "the most important thing for us is to achieve our goals. They are clear. They have not changed."
Moscow has insisted that any peace deal must include Ukraine's relinquishment of the four regions that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022, but has never fully occupied.
US President Donald Trump has expressed anger at the lack of progress and has given Moscow a 50-day deadline to agree to a deal or face tough sanctions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected Zelensky's invitations for a face-to-face meeting, and has often questioned the Ukrainian leader's legitimacy.
The war in Ukraine began on February 24, 2022.
Putin calls the war a "special military operation" to demilitarize Ukraine.
The West has responded to Russia by hitting the country's economy with harsh sanctions.
As a result of the war, thousands of people have died and millions more have been displaced from their homes./ REL (A2 Televizion)
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