Zelenskyy: Peaceful Negotiations With Russia Need A Big Momentum

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy/PHOTO via X @ZelenskyyUa

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said peace negotiations with Russia needed a "larger momentum".

Zelenskyy called on the new Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umerov, to intensify the negotiation path.

Two rounds of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Turkey earlier this year only resulted in an agreement for the exchange of prisoners and the bodies of soldiers. No date has yet been set for a new round of negotiations.

"The implementation of the agreement from the second Istanbul meeting is ongoing," Zelenskyy wrote on X.

"This process requires more momentum."

Russia, which continues to carry out intense attacks in most eastern fronts, has repeatedly stated that it is ready for a round of new negotiations, but has not withdrawn from what Kyiv and its allies have described as the maximum goal of war.

US President Donald Trump, who has sharpened his tone against Russia in recent weeks amid worsening airstrikes in Ukrainian cities, threatened tougher sanctions against Russia earlier this week if a peace deal is not reached in 50 days.

Zelenskyy also assigned Umerov, defense minister, to draw up an armament agreement with Kyiv allies.

Kyiv, who still relies on Western partners for more than half of its battlefield supply, hopes the upgraded domestic defense industry will help fend off Russia's larger and more sophisticated war engines.

"We must fully implement every agreement with our partners regarding the supply of weapons," Zelenskyy wrote.

"As well as a new special agreement on the establishment of joint manufacturing and construction of production facilities in partner areas," he continued.