Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that he spoke today with United States President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, the British newspaper The Guardian reports.
In a statement posted on social media, the Ukrainian leader wrote: "Ukraine is ready to take the fastest possible steps to achieve real peace, and it is important that the world maintains a firm stance. Our position — if the Russians refuse a complete and unconditional ceasefire and an end to the killings, tough sanctions must follow. Pressure on Russia must be maintained until Russia is ready to end the war. Thank you to everyone in the world who is helping."
Russia and Ukraine agreed today to exchange 1.000 prisoners of war each, said the head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, after the conclusion of today's peace talks in Istanbul.
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It would be the largest exchange of prisoners of war between the two sides since the start of the war in 2022. Medinsky also said that Moscow and Kiev had agreed to provide each other with detailed proposals for a ceasefire.
Ukraine has requested a meeting between heads of state Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia will consider it, he confirmed, adding that Russia is ready to continue the talks.
Kiev has accused the Kremlin of introducing new unacceptable demands for the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from vast swaths of territory, according to officials.
The requests had not been previously considered, the official said.
He said the Ukrainian side reiterated that it remains focused on achieving real progress, which is an immediate ceasefire and a path towards substantive diplomacy, "just as the US, EU and other countries have proposed," the official added.
Zelensky said earlier today that Ukraine's first priority in talks with Russia in Istanbul is to secure an unconditional ceasefire, in order to create a basis for future negotiations on a peace agreement.
At a meeting of the European Political Community in Tirana, Zelensky told other leaders that it was also crucial to build trust in the negotiation process through the release of prisoners of war and the return of Ukrainian children from Russia.
"Our number one priority is a complete, unconditional and sincere ceasefire. This must happen immediately to stop the killing and create a solid basis for diplomacy," Zelensky said, according to Reuters.
"And if the Russian representatives in Istanbul today cannot even agree on that – on a ceasefire – then it will be 100 percent clear that Putin continues to undermine diplomacy," he said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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