Ukraine accuses Russia of undermining next round of peace talks

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Ukraine accuses Russia of undermining peace talks

Ukraine's president has questioned Russia's commitment to progressing peace talks after Moscow confirmed it was sending a team to talks in Istanbul on Monday.

Russia is yet to send its negotiating proposals to Ukraine - a key demand by Kyiv. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow's conditions for a ceasefire would be discussed in Turkey.

But Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of "doing everything it can to ensure the next possible meeting is fruitless".

"For a meeting to be meaningful, its agenda must be clear, and the negotiations must be properly prepared," he said. Ukraine had sent its proposals to Russia, reaffirming "readiness for a full and unconditional ceasefire".

The first round of talks two weeks ago in Istanbul brought no breakthrough, but achieved a prisoner of war swap.

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukraine's territory, including the southern Crimea peninsula Moscow annexed in 2014.

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