Commenting on the negotiations in Istanbul, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Russians had begun to talk about a meeting at the leadership level, prompted by “certain steps and operations on Russian territory.”
The head of state expressed this opinion during a conversation with journalists on July 24, according to a Ukrinform correspondent.
“We need an end to the war, which will probably begin with a meeting between the leaders. There is no other way to deal with them. We need an agenda for such a meeting – a meeting at the leadership level. …We always raise this issue publicly. And now they have started talking about it in their conversations with us. This is already a move towards some kind of meeting format,” Zelensky said.
In his opinion, changes in the Russians’ attitude toward the idea of a meeting at the leadership level occurred due to certain steps and operations on Russian territory.
“In addition to the negotiation processes, dialogue, and diplomacy, many things have happened on their territory. You have seen this,” the president noted.
He also recalled that among the main issues on which agreement was reached during the last round of negotiations in Istanbul were the exchange of 1,200 prisoners and the return of political prisoners and journalists.
“We agreed on the exchange of 1,200 prisoners of war. Second. We have been working on this issue for a long time, and I think it is an important aspect. These are civilians – political prisoners and journalists. We have started working on the lists. Now this is the category of political prisoners and journalists. And you know that we cannot exchange civilians; they [Russia] must release civilians. Therefore, we are now looking for a format for the lists. Both on our side and on their side,” the head of state said.
As reported, a meeting of the negotiating teams of Ukraine and Russia took place in Istanbul on July 23.
Source: Zelensky says ending war requires meeting between leaders
