When the following negotiations in Turkey will take place between Ukrainians and Russians. Zelenski says what Humorov informed, but the Russian press advances another time
Volodimir Zelenski, along with the Ukrainian Minister of Defense, Rustem Humorov. Photo credit: Pavlo Bahmut / Zuma Press / Profimedia
The next round of peace discussions between Russia and Ukraine will take place in Turkey on Wednesday, after two previous sessions in Istanbul, which has not been obtained significant results in the cessation of war between the two countries, the Ukrainian president Volodimir Zelenski announced on Monday, in his message.
“Today I discussed with Rustem Humorov (the former Minister of Defense, recently named Secretary of the Security and Defense Council of Ukraine – no) about the preparations for an exchange of prisoners and another meeting with the Russian part in Turkey. Humorov informed me that the meeting is scheduled for Wednesday. More details will follow tomorrow.”
Rustem Humorov led the delegation of Kiev to the first two rounds of direct negotiations with Russia.
For the moment, the Kremlin has not yet reacted officially, but a source told the Russian press agency Tass that the meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 24, in Istanbul.
“Delegations could reach Istanbul on July 23,” said this source, commenting on Zelenski's announcement.
The Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said on Monday that the Russian and Ukrainian peace proposals are “diametrically opposed”.
The claims of Russia and those of Ukraine “are currently diametrically opposed.” What Moscow says about new discussions
“Therefore, there is a lot of diplomatic work to do,” added Peskov, announcing that Moscow is prepared by new negotiations, but mentioning that she had not yet been established.
“We have to do our best to get a ceasefire. And the Russian side must stop it from its responsibilities,” Zelenski had said two days ago, declaring himself ready to negotiate directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During the last negotiations in Istanbul, since the beginning of June, Ukraine has rejected what has qualified as “ultimatums” from Russia. Moscow asks Kiev to transfer the four partially occupied regions, plus the Crimea Peninsula annexed in 2014, and to give up all the Western military aid. Kiev also challenged Moscow's availability to negotiate a ceasefire.
However, at the beginning of July, the Kremlin was declared willing to continue negotiations with Ukraine, after US President Donald Trump took Putin 50 days to negotiate peace, threatening to sanctions and announcing the same day that he will resume weapons to Kiev, financed by NATO countries.
The last meeting between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Istanbul took place on June 2, two weeks after the first round.
