Ukraine Official: New Peace Talks May Resume Later This Week

A top Ukrainian official says another round of peace negotiations to end the ongoing war could take place by week's end. The talks would continue diplomatic efforts that have been ongoing in Abu Dhabi and Geneva involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States.

A senior Ukrainian official announced Monday that diplomatic negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict could resume before the weekend concludes.

Kyrylo Budanov, who serves as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, indicated to Ukrainian news outlets that discussions may occur within days. Multiple diplomatic sessions have already taken place in Abu Dhabi and Geneva, with participation from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States, as Washington works toward ending the conflict that began with Moscow’s invasion in 2022 and has now stretched into its fourth year.

When reporters questioned Budanov about timing for upcoming negotiations, he responded: “I think at the end of the week, this week.”

According to statements released by the president’s office, Budanov acknowledged the challenging nature of the diplomatic process while expressing optimism. “It is no secret that the negotiations are not easy, but we are definitely moving forward and approaching the moment when all sides will need to make final decisions — whether to continue this war or transition to peace,” he stated.

Beyond peace discussions, Budanov revealed that a prisoner exchange between the two nations might also occur within the coming days. He suggested this swap could surpass the scale of the most recent exchange, where both countries returned 157 prisoners of war each, though he declined to specify exact numbers.

Regarding Russia’s behavior during diplomatic sessions, Budanov described their approach as “restrained, polite and professional.”

“They behave in a completely diplomatically correct manner; it’s also clear to everyone that we have different positions,” he explained to media representatives.

While Ukraine continues pursuing arrangements for a direct meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian presidents, Budanov characterized such a summit as “very difficult” to organize at this time, despite his country “doing everything” to make it happen.