Trump seeks direct peace talks between Ukraine, Russia, Zelensky says

U.S. President Donald Trump has been clear that he goals to see direct talks between Russia and Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Might 19 throughout a press briefing in Kyiv.

The Ukrainian and Russian delegations held direct talks for the primary time since 2022 on Might 16. They concluded with out a breakthrough.

Through the talks, Moscow demanded that Kyiv withdraw its troops from 4 partially occupied Ukrainian oblasts that Russia illegally claims as its personal — Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.

"For Trump, crucial factor is direct talks between Ukraine and Russia," Zelensky stated, including that Protection Minister Rustem Umerov and Russian President Vladimir Putin's adviser, Vladimir Medinsky, held a name on Might 19 and mentioned a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner trade.

The trade will occur "within the subsequent days or even weeks," and civilians is not going to be included within the listing, in keeping with Zelensky.

Within the meantime, Ukraine additionally needs to debate with Russia the discharge of Ukrainian political prisoners and journalists, the president added.

Talking a few potential ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, Zelensky stated Russia will ship a memorandum with its proposals.

Zelensky added that in a name with U.S. President Donald Trump on Might 19, he requested for 3 issues: a ceasefire, the agility to current the Ukrainian view on the memorandum and for selections "to be agreed on Ukraine with out Ukraine."

Zelensky had a name with Trump earlier than the latter was to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

After talking with Trump, Putin once more refused to simply accept a complete ceasefire and stated that Russia's place within the negotiations stays unchanged and requires "eliminating the foundation causes" of the battle.

Reacting to the Putin-Trump name, Zelensky harassed that Ukraine is not going to withdraw its troops from the partially Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, because the Russian delegation beforehand demanded in Istanbul.

Ukraine's president added that Kyiv can be exploring the potential for a gathering with delegations from Ukraine, Russia, the USA, and the EU in Turkey, the Vatican, or Switzerland.

‘It’s all a farce’ — Ukrainian soldiers on Russia’s ‘smokescreen’ peace talks in IstanbulThe first direct peace talks in years between Kyiv and Moscow ended on May 16 with Russia once again rejecting an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. In turn, Russia demanded that Ukrainian troops leave four of the country’s regions, which Moscow partly controls. Such a demand is a non-starter for Ukraine. UkrainianThe Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak