Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has extended a fresh invitation to Moscow for peace negotiations next week, seeking to revive diplomatic channels that have remained dormant since early June.
Announcing the proposal on Saturday, Zelensky expressed hope that renewed dialogue could pave the way for meaningful progress after previous rounds yielded limited outcomes. Talks hosted in Istanbul earlier this year failed to secure any agreement towards a ceasefire, instead resulting primarily in large-scale prisoner exchanges and arrangements for the repatriation of soldiers’ remains.
The Ukrainian leader’s latest overture comes amid continued fighting on multiple fronts, underscoring the urgent need for a negotiated settlement to end the protracted conflict that has exacted a devastating toll on both nations.
“Security Council Secretary Umerov also reported that he had proposed the next meeting with the Russian side for next week,” Zelensky said in his evening address. “The momentum of the negotiations must be stepped up,” he added.
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Zelensky reiterated his readiness to have a face-to-face sit-down with Putin. “A meeting at the leadership level is needed to truly ensure peace–lasting peace,” he said.
During negotiations last month, Moscow presented Kyiv with a series of uncompromising demands, including further territorial concessions from Ukraine and a complete rejection of Western military assistance.
Ukrainian officials swiftly dismissed the proposals as untenable, questioning the purpose of continued dialogue if Russia remained unwilling to compromise.
Earlier this month, the Kremlin signalled its openness to resume talks, a move that followed US President Donald Trump’s ultimatum giving Russia 50 days to reach a peace agreement or face fresh sanctions.
Simultaneously, Trump pledged additional military support to Ukraine, backed by NATO partners, as Russian aerial assaults intensify across Ukrainian cities.
The human toll of the conflict deepened further on Saturday, when renewed Russian strikes claimed three more lives.