**Ukraine Offers Russia Another Round of Peace Talks**
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has sent a message to Moscow, proposing another round of peace talks next week. This comes as the conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues to drag on for almost three and a half years.
According to Reuters, Zelenskiy made this announcement in his evening address to the nation on Saturday. He emphasized that Kyiv wants to speed up negotiations for a ceasefire. The president also expressed frustration with Russia’s reluctance to make decisions, saying “The Russian side should stop hiding from decisions.”
**A New Round of Talks?**
This is not the first time Ukraine and Russia have held talks in Istanbul. They had two rounds of negotiations over the past five months, but made no progress in ending the conflict. This new offer comes as Russia continues to press an offensive along the eastern front in Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
The Ukrainian delegation has been led by Rustem Umerov, a former defence minister who was recently appointed as the head of the National Security and Defence Council. He is tasked with adding more momentum to the negotiations.
**Russia’s War Aims**
Despite Kyiv’s offers for peace talks, Russia has not budged from what Ukraine and its allies describe as its maximalist war aims. The conflict started with Russia’s invasion in 2022, and has left many innocent lives lost or displaced.
**International Pressure**
The international community is also putting pressure on Russia to reach a peace deal. U.S. President Donald Trump recently threatened harsher sanctions if a peace agreement was not reached within 50 days. This adds another layer of complexity to the already tense situation.
As the conflict continues, one thing is clear: Ukraine and its people are eager for peace. Whether or not this new round of talks will lead to a breakthrough remains to be seen.
Read More @ www.reuters.com
