Kyiv, July 20, (V7N) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that Ukraine has proposed a fresh round of peace talks with Russia in an effort to restart the stalled negotiation process.

In a speech late Saturday (July 19) local time, Zelensky said that Ukraine’s top security official, Rustam Umerov, had put forward the proposal for a new meeting with Russian representatives next week. “We must make every effort to achieve a ceasefire,” Zelensky emphasized.

The Ukrainian president also reiterated his willingness to hold direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating, “A meeting at the highest level is needed to ensure peace.”

The proposal for renewed dialogue came just hours after a wave of Russian airstrikes killed at least three people across Ukraine. Zelensky reported that 10 regions, including several major cities, had been targeted by Russian attacks since Friday night.

According to the Ukrainian military, Russia launched more than 340 drones—including decoys—and 35 cruise and ballistic missiles during the assault. Many were reportedly intercepted and destroyed.

Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that “the most advanced weapons” would be supplied to Ukraine via NATO member states. He also warned that if a ceasefire is not achieved within 50 days, Russia would face severe economic penalties, including 100% tariffs on its remaining trading partners.

Previous rounds of talks between Moscow and Kyiv held in Istanbul failed to yield a ceasefire agreement. However, they did result in a large-scale prisoner exchange and the repatriation of the bodies of fallen soldiers.

Ukraine has repeatedly demanded an unconditional ceasefire, a call supported by its Western allies. Russia, on the other hand, has continued to insist on further territorial concessions from Ukraine and a complete halt to Western military support.

In early June, Zelensky accused Moscow of sabotaging the peace process by rejecting basic humanitarian agreements. “Russia is doing everything to sabotage the next meeting,” he said at the time.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia has occupied roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.

Source: BBC News

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