Next steps for peace: Zelenskyy tells what Ukraine plans to do
22 May 2025 10:43
Ukraine has outlined the next steps to resolve the war with Russia. These include a large exchange of prisoners and determining the location for the next meeting with the Russians. This is reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to the head of the President’s Office, Andriy Yermak, on Telegram.
Yermak held an online conversation with diplomatic representatives of the leaders of the Nordic and Baltic countries.
The head of the Presidential Office informed his colleagues about the latest developments – the talks in Istanbul, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s meetings in Italy and the Vatican, as well as Zelenskyy’s important conversation with US President Donald Trump and EU leaders.
“Our position is clear: the first step should be an agreement on the exchange of prisoners in the format of 1000 for 1000. The second step is to determine the location for the next meeting with representatives of the Russian Federation,” Yermak emphasized.
According to the head of the OP, special attention was paid to the need to increase sanctions pressure on Russia.
“Special attention was paid to the need to increase sanctions pressure on Russia for its actions aimed at prolonging the war. Ukraine is working to ensure that a just peace becomes a reality – on the basis of international law, without compromising conscience and truth,” Yermak said.
What preceded it
The first direct talks between representatives of Ukraine and the Russian Federation in three years took place on May 16 in Istanbul. The meeting, which lasted about 90 minutes, was an important event amid the ongoing war and the absence of direct high-level dialogue since 2022. Despite limited expectations, the two sides discussed two key issues: a possible exchange of prisoners of war and the conditions for a potential ceasefire.
On the Russian side, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the discussion of the prisoner exchange was constructive. He also acknowledged that the agreement on the “1000 for 1000” format was one of the results of the Istanbul talks.
Despite some progress in the humanitarian sphere, the parties did not report any concrete agreements on a ceasefire. However, experts see the very fact that direct dialogue has resumed as a “trial reconnaissance” before possible broader negotiations in the future. The Ukrainian side has clearly stated that its priority is humanitarian issues, while the strategic conditions for peace remain far from being agreed upon.
The previous official talks between Ukraine and Russia, mediated by Turkey, took place in March 2022, when the parties met in Istanbul, but did not make significant progress. The May talks, according to political analysts, are intended to show the international community that the parties are ready for at least a limited dialogue amid international initiatives to resolve the conflict.
