KYIV, Jul 22 (Alliance News): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that Ukraine and Russia will meet again for peace talks on Wednesday in Istanbul, despite a recent wave of deadly Russian airstrikes on Kyiv and growing skepticism over the possibility of progress.
The Turkish government also confirmed the location of the negotiations, which follow two earlier rounds in May and June that failed to bring the war to an end.
President Zelensky made the announcement late Monday in his daily address, saying Ukrainian Security Council chief Rustem Umerov reported the meeting’s schedule and ongoing preparations.
“I discussed with Rustem Umerov the preparations for the exchange and another meeting in Turkey with the Russian side. Umerov reported that the meeting is scheduled for Wednesday,” Zelensky stated.
Although the Kremlin has not officially confirmed the talks, a senior Ukrainian official told AFP the Istanbul negotiations will likely center on further prisoner exchanges and possibly arranging a meeting between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, both sides have met several times without significant breakthroughs. While they have managed to agree on prisoner swaps, Russia’s continued air assaults and territorial advances have stalled broader peace efforts.
On Monday, Zelensky’s announcement came shortly after Russia launched its latest barrage on Kyiv, killing at least two people and damaging residential buildings, a supermarket, and even an underground metro shelter where civilians were taking refuge.
“This is an assault on humanity,” Zelensky said, condemning the strikes.
Six districts of Kyiv were targeted in the latest attack, with Ukraine’s air force reporting that Russia launched a record 450 drones and missiles overnight, including hypersonic projectiles.
The Russian military claimed the strikes hit Ukrainian military facilities and destroyed three US-made Patriot missile defense systems.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, visiting Kyiv during the aftermath, met with Zelensky and toured bombed-out sites, including a damaged metro station used as a civilian shelter.
“The shelters themselves are no longer entirely safe,” Barrot said.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the diplomatic gap between the two nations. “The proposals from each side remain diametrically opposed,” he told reporters in Moscow, adding that “a lot of diplomatic work lies ahead.”
Russia has repeatedly demanded that Ukraine relinquish four eastern regions and accept the 2014 annexation of Crimea, in addition to abandoning NATO membership plans — demands Ukraine firmly rejects.
Pressure from the international community is mounting. US President Donald Trump recently set a 50-day deadline for Russia to reach a peace deal or face new sanctions, while promising renewed military aid to Ukraine.
As expectations for Wednesday’s Istanbul talks remain low, both sides prepare for what many fear could be another inconclusive round of negotiations. Still, Ukrainian officials hope that renewed dialogue might open a path toward at least limited agreements or humanitarian outcomes.
The war has already killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, and left large areas of Ukraine in ruins.
