Ukraine Offers Russia New Round Of Peace Talks Next Week
Briefly

Kyiv proposed new peace talks to Moscow, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy stressed that everything should be done to achieve a cease-fire, criticizing Russia for not making decisions. He expressed a willingness to meet face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin to ensure lasting peace. Previous negotiations in May and June led to prisoner swaps but did not reach a cease-fire. Recent air strikes from Moscow have increased, resulting in civilian casualties, while Ukraine retaliated with drone attacks aimed at Russia.
"Everything should be done to achieve a cease-fire," Zelenskyy said in his regular evening address on July 19. "The Russian side should stop hiding from decisions," he added.
Zelenskyy reiterated his readiness to have a face-to-face sit-down with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, saying: "A meeting at the leadership level is needed to truly ensure peace -- lasting peace."
Two rounds of direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul in May and early June secured large-scale prisoner swaps and deals to return the bodies of slain soldiers. But they made no breakthrough in achieving a cease-fire to potentially end the military conflict that began with Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022.
Moscow has repeatedly said it is ready for a fresh round of negotiations but has since intensified its relentless air strikes on Ukraine.
Read at RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
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