Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Saturday that Kyiv has proposed a new round of peace talks with Russia to take place next week. In a video address, Zelenskyy revealed that National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov has extended an invitation for another meeting with the Russian side.

According to Anadolu Agency, Zelenskyy emphasized the necessity of accelerating the pace of negotiations between the two countries, advocating for a leaders' level meeting to secure peace. He confirmed Ukraine's readiness for such a high-level discussion.

Zelenskyy also noted the ongoing discussions with Russian representatives concerning prisoner exchanges and the repatriation of fallen soldiers, highlighting that agreements from the previous round of talks in Istanbul are being actively implemented. He mentioned that efforts are underway to organize another exchange, though details were not disclosed.

While Russian authorities have not officially responded to Zelenskyy's proposal, Russian media outlets, including the state news agency RIA, have reported on the proposal, citing sources close to Moscow's negotiation team. On the other hand, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described Zelenskyy's statements as a "positive signal" and expressed Moscow's support for fostering momentum in the negotiation process.

This proposal follows two rounds of direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine held in Istanbul, with the most recent occurring on June 2. These discussions resulted in several humanitarian agreements aimed at alleviating the conflict's impact.