New steps are being taken to stop the war in Ukraine. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed clear thoughts on the conditions under which the next negotiations with Moscow will take place. He answered journalists' questions at an international conference dedicated to post-war reconstruction in Ukraine held in Rome on July 10.
According to the head of state, for the negotiations to be meaningful, the parties must fully complete the processes of exchanging military prisoners and the bodies of fallen soldiers, as agreed in the previous agreements, particularly during the second meeting in Istanbul. Zelensky stated, "We need to finalize the agreements reached in Istanbul on June 2, including the exchange of severely wounded individuals and prisoners under 25, as well as the transfer of the bodies of fallen soldiers."
On various days in June, Ukraine and Russia exchanged military prisoners and the bodies of the deceased several times. This process is expected to be fully completed soon.
After that, it will be possible to prepare for a direct meeting at the level of heads of state as a new phase. Zelensky emphasized that the most suitable format for negotiations is a meeting of heads of state.
According to him, the dialogue must involve not only words but also specific and practical guarantees. The president stated, "There must be not only considerations at the table but also concrete guarantees."
The Vatican, Austria, Switzerland, and Turkey have offered venues for negotiations. The Ukrainian leadership is thoroughly studying these proposals and is working to ensure that the negotiations take place effectively and sustainably.
So far, the final decision and date of the meeting are not known. However, according to Zelensky, the main goal is to fully complete the humanitarian exchange processes and then start decisive negotiations at the level of heads of state.
How the complex disputes between Ukraine and Russia will be resolved and the extent of the U.S. role in this process will become clear in the coming weeks. Important political events are approaching.
