Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Sunday that he has appointed an official delegation to participate in peace negotiations with Russia, scheduled to take place Monday in Istanbul.

In a statement shared via Telegram, Zelensky said he convened a meeting with Ukraine’s defense and foreign ministers, along with top security officials, to finalize the country’s position ahead of the talks.

“We are working to protect Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty,” Zelensky stated, adding that Kyiv’s key demands include a full and unconditional ceasefire, the release of all detainees, and the return of abducted Ukrainian children.

The Ukrainian delegation will be led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, according to the president.

This new round of negotiations follows a previous meeting in Istanbul on May 15–16, during which both sides agreed to a large-scale prisoner exchange involving 2,000 individuals. That breakthrough has raised cautious optimism for further progress toward ending the conflict.