On Sunday evening, July 20th, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for peace talks and another prisoner exchange with Russian authorities, to be held sometime during the coming week.

That night, Russia attacked Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine with 426 Shahed-type drones, five Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, and 19 cruise missiles.

On Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov — apparently referring to an exchange of written demands presented at an earlier meeting in Istanbul — said only:

“There is our draft memorandum — there is a draft memorandum that has been handed over by the Ukrainian side. There is to be an exchange of views and talks on these two drafts, which are diametrically opposed so far.” [RFE/RL, July 22, 2025.]

Also on Monday, President Zelensky told the public: “Today, I discussed with [Ukrainian Security Council chief] Rustem Umerov the preparations for a prisoner exchange and another meeting in Turkey with the Russian side. Umerov reported that the meeting is scheduled for Wednesday.” [Stuart Lau, BBC News, July 22, 2025.]

Overnight on Monday-Tuesday, Moscow responded with further assaults on the Ukrainian regions of Sumy in the northeast, Odesa in the south, and Kramatorsk in the east, leaving a ten-year-old child dead and at least two dozen people injured. [RFE/RL, July 22, 2025.]

On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Peskov said he hoped the talks would be held this week, but still did not confirm an exact date. Indicating that Moscow did not expect a “miraculous breakthrough” from the meeting, he had this to offer:

“We intend to pursue our interests, we intend to ensure our interests and fulfil [sic] the tasks that we set for ourselves from the very beginning.” [Stuart Lau, BBC News, July 22, 2025.]

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If you’re thinking you’ve heard all of this before, it’s not your imagination. Moscow’s position has not shifted an inch, and — depending on the Kremlin’s unknown agenda — the most we can hope for out of another meeting is a possible prisoner exchange. While that is always an outcome to celebrate, it falls far short of any sort of peace terms . . . or even a temporary cease-fire. And it affords Putin another opportunity to solidify his stance, while Zelensky comes to the table as the supplicant.

Other than demonstrating Ukraine’s sincere desire to end the war, and Russia’s determination to keep it going to the bitter end, we should not — as Dmitry Peskov said — expect a “miraculous breakthrough.”

And he should know.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
7/22/25