Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants to restart the recently stalled ceasefire negotiations with Russia.

In a video message released in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said that the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umyerov, had proposed a meeting with Moscow next week. Ukraine is ready for a meeting at the leadership level. Zelenskyy did not specify a specific date.

The Russian news agency Tass reported that a source close to the Russian negotiating team confirmed receiving Kyiv's proposal for a meeting. Russia had recently repeatedly expressed its willingness to continue the talks that began in Istanbul in the spring. The last round ended quickly in early June after the Russian and Ukrainian delegates broke off their meeting after just under an hour. Moscow had originally expected a new round of negotiations as early as the second half of June.

Zelenskyy: Do everything to achieve ceasefire

Zelenskyy said a new prisoner exchange was also planned. The warring parties had agreed to this during their first round of negotiations. The Ukrainian president had called on Umyerov, who most recently led the talks as defense minister, to increase the momentum of the negotiations. Everything must be done to achieve a ceasefire, he said. "Ukraine is ready for such a meeting."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov welcomed Zelensky's statement on Friday that the negotiation process needed more momentum. "This is a positive signal. And here we absolutely agree: We are also in favor of accelerating the negotiation process," Peskov said.

Ukraine and Russia resumed direct negotiations in Istanbul this spring for a possible end to Moscow's war of aggression – for the first time since 2022. So far, these have primarily focused on humanitarian actions such as the exchange of prisoners of war and the return of soldiers' bodies. However, a full and unconditional ceasefire demanded by Ukraine is not in sight.

Trump has increased pressure

Russia has been waging a destructive war of aggression against Ukraine for more than three years. Moscow is making maximum demands for an end to the invasion, which Kyiv categorically rejects. Among the Russian conditions are Kyiv's renunciation of NATO membership and recognition of the territories annexed by Moscow.

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump also increased pressure on Russia and called for a ceasefire within 50 days. He threatened Moscow with sanctions and punitive tariffs, including penalty fees for Russia's trading partners.

Russia reports further drone attacks on Moscow

Meanwhile, Russia reported further Ukrainian drone attacks on the capital Moscow and other regions overnight. A total of 93 drones were shot down, including 19 over the Moscow region, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. Around ten regions were affected, primarily the Bryansk and Kursk regions bordering Ukraine. Initially, however, there were no reports of serious damage or injuries.

For security reasons, air traffic at Moscow's four airports, Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky, was temporarily suspended, the Russian news agency Tass reported, citing the aviation authority Rosaviatsia.

Already on Saturday, Ukraine had attacked targets in Russia with drones in its defense against Moscow's war of aggression. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin now reports Ukrainian drone attacks daily.

With these attacks on targets in the Russian hinterland, Ukraine primarily aims to hit the enemy's military supply lines. The damage and casualties resulting from the Ukrainian attacks are disproportionate to the many dead and injured, as well as the severe destruction caused by the Russian attacks.

Ukraine: Eleven abducted children and teenagers return

According to Ukrainian sources, eleven children and adolescents abducted by Russia during the war have returned to their homeland. The youngest of the returned children is ten years old, the oldest 17, according to Ukrainian human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinez on Telegram. This brings the total number of children returned from the occupied territories and Russia to 1,453 since the beginning of the Russian invasion. The figures could not initially be independently verified.

Russia is accused of intentionally destroying the identities of Ukrainian children and causing profound emotional and psychological trauma through the forced abductions. The International Criminal Court in The Hague has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his children's envoy, Maria Lvova-Belova, for the abduction. Russia denies the allegations.