ISTANBUL

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday said he instructed Andriy Yermak, the head of the Presidential Office, to form Kyiv’s delegation for the next Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul.

“The delegation will be headed by (National Security and Defense Council Secretary) Rustem Umerov and will include representatives of Ukrainian intelligence, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, and the Office of the President,” Zelenskyy wrote on X following a meeting with Yermak and Umerov.

Zelenskyy said that Umerov, during the meeting, reported on the implementation of the agreements reached during the second round of talks held in the Turkish metropolis Istanbul last month, as well as the agreement to hold a new meeting “in the near future.”

Yermak, for his part, reported on the coordination of Kyiv’s diplomatic efforts with its partners in Europe and with the US, Zelenskyy noted, adding that the country is ready to work productively in securing the return of more prisoners of war, establishing a halt to hostilities, and preparing for a leaders' meeting.

“Our position is fully transparent. Ukraine never wanted this war, and it is Russia that must end the war that it started,” the president also said.

Zelenskyy's Tuesday statement came after his video address Monday evening, when he announced that a new round of Kyiv-Moscow peace talks will be held in Türkiye on Wednesday.

"Today, I discussed with Rustem Umerov the preparation for a prisoner exchange and another meeting in Türkiye with the Russian side. Umerov reported that the meeting is planned for Wednesday. More details will follow tomorrow (Tuesday)," he said.

Russian authorities have yet to officially comment on Zelenskyy’s remarks from late Monday.

So far, two rounds of renewed direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine were held in Istanbul on May 16 and June 2.

In the latest talks, both sides agreed to exchange additional prisoners of war -- prioritizing the youngest and most severely wounded -- and to return the bodies of 6,000 soldiers from each side.

Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky led Moscow's delegation during the two talks, while Umerov led Ukraine's delegation during the talks facilitated by Türkiye.

On Monday, the Kremlin said there are "no changes" in the composition of Russia's delegation at the talks, confirming that Medinsky will continue to serve as the head of Moscow's delegation.