Europe Asia News

Ukraine’s chief negotiator and head of the National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umerov, said the talks were “concise and productive, focused on concrete steps and practical solutions.”

Zelensky said it is critically important that the talks lead to real peace and do not give Russia a new opportunity to continue the war, adding that Ukraine’s partners should increase pressure on Moscow.

“This needs to be felt now. The Ukrainian people must feel that the situation is truly moving toward peace and the end of the war, not toward Russia continuing its attacks by using everything to its advantage,” Zelensky said.

Zelenskyy also added that Ukraine expects the talks to soon lead to a new prisoner exchange.

Commenting on the talks, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that the very fact that the talks are taking place is good news and said the United States intends to continue them. Rubio also noted that the extent of progress will not be known until a clear breakthrough is achieved.

Meanwhile, the outlines of potential future agreements have already begun to be discussed in the media. Various outlets report, citing sources, that the dialogue is being conducted with the understanding that Ukraine will not become a NATO member.

At the same time, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that if Kyiv brings the ideas of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to the UAE, an agreement could be forgotten. “This will once again show that Zelensky does not want peace,” Lavrov said.