New Ukraine-Russia talks set for Wednesday in Istanbul, Zelensky says
The talks will be held in Istanbul, a Turkish government spokesperson said, the same venue as previous negotiations which failed to make any breakthroughs in May and June.
While US President Donald Trump has increased the pressure by giving Russia 50 days to agree on a deal or face sanctions, Zelensky spoke only hours after the Kremlin had played down hopes for a breakthrough.
His announcement of a fresh round of negotiations also came in the wake of the
latest Russian barrage on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv , which sparked several fires and damaged an underground air-raid shelter where civilians had taken refuge.
An explosion of a drone lights up the sky over Kyiv on Monday. Photo: Reuters
'Today, I discussed with (Ukrainian Security Council chief) 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 said in his daily address on Monday.
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