Ukraine's Minister of Defense: Peace is possible only if Russia shows readiness for concrete actions

(Patria) - Ukraine's Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov spoke after a meeting of Ukrainian delegations with numerous officials. A meeting with the Russian delegation is scheduled for the afternoon, after American and Turkish partners hold a meeting with them as well.

"We are in Istanbul, together with the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybih, held a meeting with the Special Envoy of the President of the United States Keith Kellogg, the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Jonathan Powell, the Advisor to the German Chancellor for Foreign and Security Policy Gunter Sautter, and the Diplomatic Advisor to the French President Emmanuel Bonne.

Ahead of today's meeting with the Russian delegation in Istanbul, we coordinated our positions with our colleagues. The Ukrainian side confirmed its commitment to peace efforts, highlighting the constructive steps taken in recent weeks and months.

We are ready for a full and unconditional ceasefire, as we previously stated during meetings in Jeddah and Riyadh with our American partners. Ukraine is ready for direct negotiations at the highest level. Today we came to Istanbul to find real paths to a sustainable and just peace.

Peace is possible only if Russia shows readiness for concrete actions - including a complete ceasefire for at least 30 days and humanitarian steps such as the return of forcibly deported Ukrainian children and an exchange of prisoners under the 'all for all' formula.

We are grateful to our partners - the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany - for their support in advancing the peace process. We also thank Turkey for facilitating today's meeting, providing a platform for negotiations, and its active role in achieving a just peace for Ukraine.

We continue our fight for a just and lasting peace - and we will not cease our efforts to achieve it," Umerov stated.