Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that a new round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia will take place in Istanbul this Wednesday, in a renewed attempt to ease the ongoing conflict.

In his nightly address on Monday, Zelensky revealed that preparations were underway for the dialogue, which will also focus on a potential prisoner swap. "I spoke today with [Ukrainian Security Council chief] Rustem Umerov about the readiness for another meeting with the Russian side in Turkey. Umerov informed me the session is scheduled for Wednesday," he stated.

This diplomatic move follows a warning from U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently cautioned Moscow that it faces “severe” sanctions if no ceasefire is achieved within the next 50 days. Washington has also pledged fresh military aid to Kyiv as Russian bombardments intensify.

On the ground, violence continues to take a heavy toll. In the eastern city of Kramatorsk, a Russian glide bomb struck an apartment complex overnight into Tuesday, killing a child, according to local authorities. Meanwhile, six districts in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, were targeted in a combined drone and missile barrage.

Ukrainian forces report having repelled over 50 assaults in the Pokrovsk sector of the eastern front, an area where Russian troops have ramped up operations. Ukraine’s top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, noted that Russian sabotage units had already attempted to breach the city.

While the Kremlin has remained silent on the upcoming talks, Russia’s state-run RIA news agency cited a source indicating the Istanbul discussions may extend into Thursday and Friday.

A spokesperson from the Turkish government confirmed that the meeting will take place at the same location where negotiations occurred in May and June sessions that resulted in prisoner exchanges but no progress toward a ceasefire.

This week's talks come more than three years into the full-scale war and follow increasing pressure on Moscow from Trump, who told the BBC he was "disappointed" with Russian President Vladimir Putin but “not giving up” on diplomacy.

Sources close to the Ukrainian delegation told AFP that the upcoming Istanbul session could also explore the possibility of a direct meeting between Zelensky and Putin. However, Russia has played down expectations of any major breakthroughs.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov cautioned that the two nations remain “fundamentally at odds” and that extensive diplomatic work would be required before any real progress is achieved.

Russia’s stepped-up drone and missile strikes have recently pushed civilian casualties to new highs, deepening the humanitarian crisis. The conflict began with Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.