Russian-Ukrainian talks: Kyiv wants to talk about new exchange and presidential meetings

According to Kiev, discussions about a ceasefire and the end of the war, which has been running for more than three years, are not on the list of topics of the next round of negotiations with Russia. The meeting for Kiev is initially concerned with driving the return of his own prisoners of war and deported by Russia to Ukraine and preparing a meeting at Presidential level, said President Wolodymyr Selenskyj at a meeting with Ukrainian diplomats.

“We need more dynamics in the negotiations to end the war,” Selenskyj explained his insistence at a meeting with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. Results can only be expected when discussions at the highest level, said the Ukrainian head of state. In mid -May, Selenskyj had already traveled to Turkey to expect a meeting with Putin.

So far, the Kremlin has rejected direct negotiations between the president on the grounds that such conversations to have results should be well prepared. For this purpose, the necessary prerequisites should first be created at the lower level.

So far little progress

In the first two rounds of direct negotiations between Kiev and Moscow in May and June, both sides agreed on a large prisoner exchange and the return of fallen. Selenskyj had proposed new negotiations during the week at the weekend. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskow confirmed Moscow’s interest in the talks, which, like the two previous rounds, should take place in Istanbul in May and June. According to media reports, there is a meeting on July 24th or 25th in the room that the exact date is still voted.