"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.

The previous round of talks took place on June 2 in Istanbul, following a May 16 meeting after a years-long freeze.