Ukraine Eyes Next Round of Peace Talks at Leaders’ Level, Says Umerov

May 16, 2025 20:47 LIUBAVA PETRIV

source: click on picture

On May 16, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had anticipated high-level discussions during the talks held in Istanbul.

According to Umerov, organizing a meeting between national leaders could be the logical next step in the ongoing dialogue.

Speaking at a press briefing following the meeting with the Russian delegation in Istanbul, Umerov noted: “Our President expected a high-level discussion, and I believe the next necessary step is to prepare for a leaders' summit. With that in mind, our team will now return to Ukraine to continue consultations.”

He also emphasized that while Ukraine remains capable of continuing its defense efforts, the country is focused on preserving human life and believes the war must ultimately be brought to an end through diplomatic means.

Earlier, it was reported that peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul ended after just two hours, following Russia’s demand for the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from all territories claimed by the Kremlin—including the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions—as a precondition for any ceasefire agreement.

On the same day, the head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, was quoted as saying, “We’re ready to fight however long it takes,” signaling a continued hardline position, according to The Economist.