Russia and Ukraine will hold new peace talks in Turkey Wednesday as a follow-up to two rounds in Istanbul that made little progress on ending their war, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced.
While US President Donald Trump has increased the pressure by giving Russia 50 days to agree on a deal or face sanctions, Zelensky spoke only hours after the Kremlin had downplayed hopes for a breakthrough.
His announcement of a fresh round of negotiations also came in the wake of a fresh Russian barrage on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, which sparked several fires and damaged an underground air-raid shelter where civilians had taken refuge.
"Today, I discussed with (Ukrainian Security Council chief) Rustem Umerov the preparations for the exchange and another meeting in Turkey with the Russian side. Umerov reported that the meeting is scheduled for Wednesday," Zelensky said in his daily address on Monday.
Zelensky, who proposed fresh talks at the weekend, added that more details would be released on Tuesday. Russia did not immediately confirm the new negotiations.
A senior Ukrainian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP earlier that the talks would probably be in Istanbul and focus on further prisoner exchanges and a possible meeting between Zelensky and Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
At war since Russia's all-out invasion in February 2022, the rival sides met in Istanbul on May 16 and June 2 as Washington stepped up pressure for a deal. But no breakthrough was made.
Ukrainian and Russian negotiators only agreed to hold prisoner exchanges. Russia has since launched intense air attacks on Ukraine and seized more frontline territory.
The two sides exchanged ideas at the talks on what a peace deal could look like, but remain far apart.
Russia has demanded that Ukraine give up four regions, on top of Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. The Kremlin also insists Ukraine give up any idea of joining the NATO military alliance.
Ukraine has rejected the demands and expressed doubt that Russia wants a ceasefire.
Commenting on the prospects for a breakthrough, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that the two drafts were "diametrically opposed" and "a lot of diplomatic work lies ahead".
A bigger US shadow will hang over the latest talks however after Trump last week gave Russia the 50-day deadline -- and also said that arms supplies to Ukraine would be resumed.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/russia-ukraine-talks-wednesday-zelensky-190922710.html
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