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Istanbul will serve as the venue for the next round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, sources confirmed, as Ukraine has proposed holding a third round of talks, possibly next week.
"Yes, Istanbul is an acceptable platform," a source told Russian TASS news agency when asked about the venue for upcoming negotiations between the warring parties.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov has delivered Ukraine's proposal to Russia for conducting the third round of negotiations next week.
"Negotiations with the Russian side on prisoner exchange issues continue. We continue to fulfill the agreements reached at the last meeting in Istanbul. The team is currently working on another exchange," Zelenskyy said in a post on his Telegram channel.
Zelenskyy also noted the need to intensify diplomatic efforts, stating: "Negotiation dynamics must be increased. Everything must be done to achieve a ceasefire. And the Russian side must stop avoiding decisions."
A source close to the Russian negotiating group confirmed that Ukraine had proposed holding a new round of negotiations next week, though another TASS source indicated that "there are no dates yet, it will be agreed upon."
The Ukrainian president stressed the necessity of a leaders-level meeting to achieve peace, declaring: "Ukraine is ready for such a meeting."
Zelenskyy noted that his delegation head for the Istanbul talks, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, had conveyed the proposal for new negotiations to the Russian side.
According to Zelenskyy's statement, diplomatic teams from both sides are actively working on implementing agreements reached during previous Istanbul meetings, with particular focus on prisoner exchange arrangements.
The Ukrainian leader indicated that current discussions with Russian representatives are ongoing regarding prisoner swap procedures, with teams working to organize additional exchanges based on previously established frameworks.
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