Will there be another round of negotiations with Russia? — Umerov's statement

The initiative for ceasefire negotiations emerged at the beginning of 2025. It was first voiced by U.S. President Donald Trump in January.

Defense Minister Rustem Umerov reported this during a meeting with journalists.

"Ukraine has always remained consistent in its pursuit of peace. We supported the U.S. initiative for a complete ceasefire from the very beginning and proved this through multiple rounds of negotiations. But any dialogue is only possible without ultimatums and with respect for our country’s sovereignty," the minister said.

He also reminded that the negotiations took place in several stages across different countries.

The first round was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where the Ukrainian delegation, together with American partners, discussed the conditions for a ceasefire.

The second stage took place in Riyadh: negotiations continued with the American side, while the Russian delegation joined remotely. The Ukrainian side communicated with the Russians via the Americans.

"After more than 10 hours of talks, the Russian side did not agree to a compromise. The only mutually accepted step at that time was a moratorium on strikes against energy infrastructure. Subsequent meetings were held in Paris and London, where Ukraine maintained a consistent position and sought to move toward agreements," Umerov added.

According to the minister, after the humanitarian discussions conclude, Ukraine plans to move on to the topic of a leaders’ meeting for substantive dialogue.