Russian-Ukrainian conversations
Selenskyj: New negotiations with Russia on Wednesday
Updated on July 21, 2025 – 8:43 p.m.Reading time: 1 min.
In 2025, two rounds of conversation between Ukrainians and Russians were already taking place in Istanbul in Turkish. Without a big breakthrough. Now a third appointment is probably imminent.
According to the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj, the next round of negotiations with the Aggressor Russia will take place in Istanbul on Wednesday. The Ukrainian chief negotiator, Rustem Umjerow, told him that, Selenskyj said in a video message. A new prisoner exchange is being prepared.
From the Russian side there was initially no official confirmation for the new discussions – but Moscow had long pushed for a new appointment in Istanbul. The state Russian news agency TASS confirmed the appointment on Wednesday, referring to a not more detailed source.
Selenskyj also announced new attacks on targets in Russia. “If (the Russian President Vladimir) Putin is so crazy about the Shahed drones and terror, then you have to take logistics,” said Selenskyj. To do this, the Ukraine also needs more aircraft systems to be able to protect larger parts of the country from Russian drones and rockets.
Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian invasion for more than three years. In May and June, two rounds of the war parties were held in Istanbul for the first time since spring 2022. During the negotiations, the pages mainly agreed on exchanges of prisoners and soldiers’ corpses. A ceasefire requested by the USA, among other things, has not yet been reached.
