Zelenskyy approved the composition of the Ukrainian delegation for negotiations with Russia in Istanbul

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, approved the composition of the Ukrainian delegation, which will participate in the negotiation process with international partners, as well as with representatives of the Russian Federation regarding the achievement of a just and sustainable peace. The meeting should take place on July 23 in the city of Istanbul (Turkey). Text of Decree No. 539/2025 made public on the official website of the President of Ukraine.

The composition of the delegation is as follows:

• Umerov Rustem Enverovych — Secretary of the NSDC, head of the delegation
• Oleksandr Oleksandrovich Bevz is an adviser to the Head of the Office of the President
• Oleksandr Ivanovych Dyakov — Deputy Chief of Staff of the Navy Command
• Serhii Olehovych Kislytsia is the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Yuriy Mykhailovych Kovbasa is a representative of the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights
• Georgy Yuriyovych Kuzmychov — protocol officer of the Commander-in-Chief’s Service Support Apparatus
• Oleg Vasyliovych Luhovskyi is the first deputy head of the Foreign Intelligence Service
• Yevgeny Viktorovych Ostryansky — Deputy Chief of the General Staff
• Oleksandr Valentinovych Poklad is the Deputy Head of the Security Service of Ukraine
• Vadim Vasyliovych Skibitskyi is the deputy chief of the Main Directorate of Intelligence
• Fomin Andrii Anatoliyovych — Head of the Department of International Law of the General Staff
• Shevchenko Oleksiy Mykolayovych — Deputy Chief of the General Staff
• Oleksandr Igorevich Sherikhov is a senior officer of the Main Operational Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
• Evgeny Mykhailovych Shynkaryev is the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force Command

According to Zelenskyi, the agenda of the meeting and the most important issues for Ukraine have already been agreed. In particular, we are talking about the release of prisoners of war and civilians held by Russia, as well as the return of kidnapped Ukrainian children.

“The release of our people from Russian captivity must continue, and now, right now, the necessary procedures for a new exchange have already begun – we are waiting for our people tomorrow. I really hope that everything will be successful tomorrow.” – said the president.

Among the key tasks of the delegation is also work on a ceasefire and the organization of a meeting of leaders, which, according to Zelenskyi, “can bring peace closer.”