Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced during a press briefing on June 26 that the country is preparing to advance ceasefire negotiations with Russia by arranging a direct meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This step comes after initial discussions on humanitarian issues, which Umerov said have been a priority. Umerov emphasized Ukraine’s longstanding commitment to peace, stating that the nation has supported the U.S.-initiated ceasefire proposal since its inception. However, he pointed out that Russia’s rejection of the full ceasefire proposal has hindered progress, with the Russian side offering only temporary truces that Ukraine deemed insufficient.
The negotiations, which began in January with U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative, have taken place in multiple locations including Jeddah, Riyadh, Paris, London, and Istanbul. During some rounds, U.S. mediators were involved, while in others, Russia requested the exclusion of foreign mediators. Ukraine has accepted the U.S.-proposed full ceasefire across land, sea, and air in early March, but Russia has not accepted this offer. While no comprehensive ceasefire agreement has been reached, significant progress has been made in prisoner exchanges, including a 1,000-for-1,000 swap in late May and subsequent deals for up to 1,200 prisoners from each side.
Umerov stated that recent discussions have focused on humanitarian issues such as the release of civilians and children, with the next stage of negotiations targeting a leaders’ summit for substantive dialogue. He criticized Russia for rejecting the idea of a full ceasefire, asserting that Moscow has been avoiding real peace. Zelensky has also expressed frustration with Russia’s limited ceasefire offers, urging Trump to enforce sanctions if the talks remain fruitless. Trump has indicated he is closely monitoring the peace process, warning that the U.S. response could change if Putin is not willing to end the war. Despite these efforts, no additional U.S. sanctions have been imposed after more than 100 days of Russia’s refusal to accept the ceasefire proposal.
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced that Ukraine plans to organize a direct meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin as the next step in ceasefire negotiations. This move comes after initial discussions on humanitarian issues, which have been a priority for both parties. Umerov emphasized Ukraine’s commitment to peace, stating that the nation has supported the U.S.-initiated ceasefire proposal from the beginning. However, he pointed out that Russia’s rejection of the full ceasefire proposal has hindered progress, with the Russian side offering only temporary truces that Ukraine deemed insufficient.
The negotiations, which began in January with U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative, have taken place in multiple locations including Jeddah, Riyadh, Paris, London, and Istanbul. During some rounds, U.S. mediators were involved, while in others, Russia requested the exclusion of foreign mediators. Ukraine has accepted the U.S.-proposed full ceasefire across land, sea, and air in early March, but Russia has not accepted this offer. While no comprehensive ceasefire agreement has been reached, significant progress has been made in prisoner exchanges, including a 1,000-for-1,000 swap in late May and subsequent deals for up to 1,200 prisoners from each side.
Umerov stated that recent discussions have focused on humanitarian issues such as the release of civilians and children, with the next stage of negotiations targeting a leaders’ summit for substantive dialogue. He criticized Russia for rejecting the idea of a full ceasefire, asserting that Moscow has been avoiding real peace. Zelensky has also expressed frustration with Russia’s limited ceasefire offers, urging Trump to enforce sanctions if the talks remain fruitless. Trump has indicated he is closely monitoring the peace process, warning that the U.S. response could change if Putin is not willing to end the war. Despite these efforts, no additional U.S. sanctions have been imposed after more than 100 days of Russia’s refusal to accept the ceasefire proposal.