Ukraine proposes renewed peace talks as Zelenskyy urges Russia to ‘stop avoiding decisions’

Volodmyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine has proposed renewed ceasefire talks with Russia for next week.

The Ukrainian president said his government was working to implement the agreements reached during the last set of talks in the Turkish city of Istanbul.

That was the second round of peace talks between representatives of Russia and Ukraine in just over two weeks.

Mr Zelenskyy said negotiations with Russia on the prisoners of war swaps, agreed at the most recent talks, were ongoing.

But despite the agreement, no progress has so far been made towards ending the war, according to officials.

Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine’s delegation, has suggested holding the third round of direct peace talks next week, according to the president.

“The negotiation dynamics need to be intensified. We must do everything possible to achieve a ceasefire,” Mr Zelenskyy said.

“The Russian side must stop avoiding decisions… A meeting at the leaders’ level is needed to secure a lasting peace truly. Ukraine is ready for such a meeting.”

👉Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim on your podcast app👈

Mr Zelenskyy’s comments come as Russia launched a significant drone and missile attack on Ukraine overnight, killing one person, and injuring six others, in the port city of Odessa.

The Ukrainian president said in a post on X that Russia had fired more than 300 drones and over 30 cruise missiles as part of the attack.

The latest round of long-range attacks comes after Russia unleashed more than 700 drones on 8 July – a new record.

Its stepped-up bombing campaign has dashed hopes for a breakthrough in the ongoing efforts to bring the war to an end, after more than three years of fighting.

Russia’s defence ministry said it had shot down 71 Ukrainian drones overnight into Saturday.

Moscow‘s mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 13 drones were shot down as they approached the Russian capital.