Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says a new round of talks with Russia is expected to take place in Türkiye on Wednesday, as part of efforts to end the war.
In his nightly video address, Zelenskyy said he discussed the planned meeting with National Security and Defence Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, along with preparations for a potential prisoner exchange.
“Umerov reported that the meeting is planned for Wednesday. There will be more details tomorrow,” he said.
Speaking earlier to Ukrainian ambassadors in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said Umerov had proposed the new talks, adding that meaningful negotiations “can only take place at the level of national leaders.” He urged ambassadors to secure international backing for the format.
Russian officials have not issued an official statement.
“The agenda from our side is clear,” Zelenskyy posted on X. “I urge you to inform your host countries of the importance of this negotiation framework.”
If held as planned, this will be the third direct round of renewed negotiations between the two sides. The previous talks took place in Türkiye on 16 May and 2 June, resulting in an agreement on a limited prisoner exchange and the return of the bodies of 6,000 fallen soldiers from each side.
Without revealing full details of the agenda, Zelenskyy noted the discussions are proceeding through diplomatic channels with Turkish support.
Addressing broader diplomatic goals, he outlined Ukraine’s priorities: expanding sanctions against Russia, strengthening air defences, and boosting drone capabilities. He said new defence formats are needed despite strong existing cooperation, pointing to Denmark’s F-16 initiative, Czech artillery support, and France’s training of Ukrainian pilots on Mirage jets.
“Now the priority is drones — all types,” Zelenskyy said, adding that Ukraine must also find innovative ways to convert frozen Russian assets and court victories into funding for national defence.
He confirmed continued coordination with President Donald Trump’s administration on air defence systems and drone-related cooperation.
Zelenskyy also highlighted Ukraine’s partnerships beyond NATO and the EU, citing frameworks such as Ukraine–Northern Europe, Ukraine–Southeast Europe, the Crimean Platform, and its close cooperation with Türkiye.
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