**Ukraine Appoints Delegation for Peace Talks with Russia**
In a bid to bring an end to the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed a Ukrainian delegation to lead negotiations in Istanbul on July 23. The move is seen as a step towards prisoner exchanges and a possible ceasefire.
The delegation will be headed by National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov and include representatives from Ukraine’s military intelligence, the Foreign Ministry, and the Presidential Office. Zelensky has emphasized that Ukraine’s position is “fully transparent” and that Russia must take responsibility for ending the war it started.
**Prisoner Exchanges on the Agenda**
According to Zelensky, upcoming prisoner exchanges are expected based on previous talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials. The agenda of the upcoming round of peace talks will focus on the repatriation of prisoners of war and abducted Ukrainian children, as well as the framework for a future meeting involving national leaders.
Zelensky has also signaled that Ukraine is ready to work “as productively as possible” in pursuit of concrete outcomes from the negotiations. The latest direct meeting between Ukrainian and Russian officials took place on June 2, following an earlier round on May 16 after more than three years without any formal negotiations.
**Russia’s Position Remains Unclear**
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has confirmed Moscow’s willingness to hold a third round of talks but claimed that a final date had not yet been set. Peskov added that there would be “no changes” to Russia’s delegation, which remains headed by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aide, Vladimir Medinsky.
Putin himself has declined to participate directly in the negotiations, and Russia continues to state its war aims will be achieved “on the battlefield.” Ukraine has proposed an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, a position backed by Washington, but Russia has rejected the offer.
**International Support for Peace Talks**
Andriy Yermak, head of the Presidential Office, briefed Zelensky on Ukraine’s coordination with diplomatic partners in Europe and the United States in support of the talks. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also said that Ankara is working to organize a Zelensky-Putin meeting, potentially with the involvement of U.S. President Donald Trump.
As tensions between Ukraine and Russia remain high, the upcoming peace talks are seen as a crucial step towards finding a solution to the conflict.
