Zelensky-putin Meeting Is The Next Goal, Says Ukrainian Defense Minister

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said the agreement with Russia to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war is an “important achievement,” but the next goal is to have discussions between the two countries’ leaders.

“Our president (Volodymyr Zelensky) was expecting the high-level discussions here, and I think the next step would be that the leaders-level meeting should be organized,” he told reporters in Istanbul.

He added that while Ukraine is able to continue fighting, “at the end of the day we need to finalize this war.”

Speaking alongside Umerov, First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya called Friday’s talks “potentially a very good end to a very difficult day that is a result of many weeks of work of our leaders – of the president of Ukraine, of the United States, of the president of Turkey and our European partners.”

He described the success of Friday’s negotiations as “tentative” and “still to be consolidated,” calling for pressure on Russia to continue. “We should not really relax at this point,” he said.

“There are many issues that can be resolved if only the leaders can meet because, given the complexity of the issues, and given the nature of the Russian Federation – where practically every single issue that is at stake can only be resolved by President (Vladimir) Putin – we are looking forward to having the summit sooner than later,” said Kyslytsya.

CNN