Zelensky instructed to form a team for negotiations with Russia: who will lead the group

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a decree on the formation of a Ukrainian delegation to participate in a new round of negotiations with Russia, which is scheduled for 23 July. The delegation will be headed by the secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, Rustem Umerov.

This was announced by the head of state himself in Telegram after a meeting dedicated to preparations for the meeting with the Russian side in Turkey. According to Zelensky, Ukraine is ready to continue working for the release of prisoners, the return of illegally exported children, the cessation of violence and the preparation of a possible summit meeting.

Our position is as transparent as possible. Ukraine never wanted this war. And it is Russia that should stop it," the president emphasised.

Umerov reported on the implementation of the agreements reached at the previous meeting in Istanbul and said that he was ready for the next round. Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak noted that coordination of diplomatic efforts with partners in the USA and Europe continues.

The Ukrainian delegation will include representatives of the intelligence service, the Foreign Ministry and the presidential office.

We shall remind you that two rounds of negotiations had already been held in Istanbul earlier, which resulted in large-scale exchanges of prisoners and bodies of the dead.