A: Hey there! Guess what? Zelenskyy's talking about a new chat with Russia again, man!

B: Really? What's the plan this time?

A: Dude, his guy, Umerov, proposed a new meeting next week. He wants peace, but they need to talk at the top level to make sure it lasts.

B: Oh, so where and when? Any details?

A: Not yet, bro. But remember, they had talks back in May and again last month in Istanbul. They agreed to exchange prisoners of war too!

B: Right, right... So what's the main issue now?

A: Well, Ukraine wants an unconditional ceasefire for at least 30 days. But Russia wants Ukraine to pull out troops from four regions in the country. They seem pretty far apart still.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said his country has proposed to Russia a new round of direct talks for a ceasefire.



Zelenskyy posted on social media on Saturday that the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umerov, proposed a new meeting with Russia to be held next week.



Zelenskyy said everything must be done to realize a ceasefire. He also said a meeting at the leadership level is needed to ensure a lasting peace and that Ukraine is ready.



He did not mention a specific date or location for the talks.



Russia's Tass news agency quoted a source close to the Russian negotiation team as saying the Ukrainian side proposed a new round of talks.



The two countries held direct talks for the first time in about three years in May.



Last month, a second round of talks took place in Istanbul. Russia and Ukraine agreed to exchange prisoners of war.



The Ukrainian side sought an unconditional ceasefire of at least 30 days, while the Russian side demanded Ukraine completely withdraw its troops from four regions in the country's east and south.



The two countries apparently remain far apart.