"It is clear to all that truly effective talks can only take place at the level of national leaders," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Russia and Ukraine will hold new peace talks Wednesday as a follow-up to two rounds in Istanbul that made little progress on ending their war, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced. "Today, I discussed with [Ukrainian Security Council chief] Rustem Umerov the preparations for the exchange and another meeting in Turkey with the Russian side.

Detailed ceasefire talks are not on the agenda for the next round of negotiations with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Kiev diplomats on Monday. The meeting should instead focus on advancing the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war and children abducted by Russia,