Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Russian and Ukrainian delegations will meet Wednesday in Istanbul—their first session since President Trump imposed a 50-day deadline for a ceasefire deal. It marks the third such round since May.
In his nightly address Monday, Zelenskyy said he met with Rustem Umerov, now head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, to prepare for both the talks and a possible prisoner exchange. “Umerov reported that the meeting is planned for Wednesday,” Zelenskyy said. “More details will follow tomorrow.”
Russian state agencies TASS and RIA, citing Turkish sources, confirmed the talks will begin Wednesday and continue through Friday. The two sides previously met in Istanbul on May 16 and June 2, after a long pause since early in the war. The earlier meetings resulted in prisoner and body exchanges but failed to yield progress on a ceasefire, despite continued pressure from the Trump administration.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s goals for the upcoming talks include the return of prisoners and the preparation of the leaders’ meeting, referring to his repeated call for a face-to-face meeting with President Putin. Zelenskyy also announced Tuesday that Umerov will lead Ukraine’s delegation, joined by representatives from intelligence, the Foreign Ministry, and the president’s office.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, speaking Sunday, responded to Trump’s ceasefire ultimatum by saying, “Everyone is already used to his rather tough and straightforward rhetoric,” but added that Trump “confirms his intentions to do everything possible to contribute to peaceful settlement.” He also reiterated Putin’s desire for peace but warned that “this is a long process… and it is not easy.”
On the possibility of a Trump–Putin summit, Peskov said, “It is possible, and over time it will definitely happen. It is necessary,” though he stressed that “this work is yet to be done.” “Russia is ready to move fast,” he added. “The main thing for us is to achieve our goals… But the process depends not only on us.”
