Zelensky announces new round of direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that a third round of direct negotiations will take place between representatives of his country and Russia on Wednesday, July 23, in Istanbul, Turkey.

The negotiations between the two sides will be focused on the release of prisoners of war, preparations for a possible meeting between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as the repatriation of Ukrainian children held in Russia, the Ukrainian president said.

Preparations for the talks are being handled by Rustam Umerov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, who will head the Ukrainian delegation, Zelensky said.

Putin again avoided personally taking part in the negotiations, so the Russian delegation will be headed by his advisor Vladimir Medinsky.

Russia does not expect "miraculous breakthroughs"

Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman, said Russia supports talks with Ukraine but that the main thing for Moscow is to achieve its goals in the war. And he added that he does not expect "miraculous breakthroughs" during the negotiations.

According to Ukraine, Russia once again rejected the proposal for a total 30-day ceasefire, an initiative backed by the U.S.

Russian attacks intensify

The third round of negotiations will take place against a backdrop of high tensions, as Russia recently launched a large number of air strikes with drones in different regions of Ukraine, including Suby in the north, Donetsk in the east and Odessa in the south, which left one child dead and 14 injured, Ukrainian officials said.

In addition, President Donald Trump recently threatened Moscow with sanctions and tariffs if it did not reach an agreement with Kiev by September.