Ukraine Outlines Three Key Demands Presented to Russia at Latest Talks

The head of the Ukrainian delegation in negotiations with Russia, Rustem Umerov, reported to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the results of the third meeting with the Russians in Istanbul.

The Gaze reports on it, referring to his Facebook post.

Umerov told Zelenskyy that the Ukrainian side had ‘clearly outlined’ three key priorities:

A complete and unconditional ceasefire – with the cessation of all strikes on civilian and critical infrastructure.

The organisation of a meeting between the leaders – the presidents of Ukraine and Russia, with the participation of leaders of other countries, in particular Presidents Trump and Erdogan, by the end of August.

The return of all Ukrainian prisoners, including civilians and children who were illegally taken to the Russian Federation.

The head of the Ukrainian delegation reiterated that Kyiv is ready for a ceasefire today, noting that ‘the technical mechanisms are known’ and the only obstacle is the lack of a political decision in the Kremlin.

‘Peace is possible. But for this to happen, Moscow must change its approach: from ultimatums to responsibility, from war to solutions,’ Umerov said.

The third round of peace talks between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations took place in Istanbul, Turkey, on the evening of 23 July.

After the meeting, the head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, said that the positions of Ukraine and Russia in the memoranda were ‘quite far apart’.

As The Gaze reported earlier, the heads of the Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul, Rustem Umerov and Vladimir Medinsky, announced a new agreement to exchange over 1,200 prisoners of war on each side, The Gaze reports, citing Ukrainian Pravda.