Ukraine updates: Third round of talks underway in Istanbul

07/23/2025July 23, 2025

Ukraine and Russia begin third round of talks in Istanbul

Negotiation teams from Ukraine and Russia began a fresh round of talks in Istanbul on Wednesday evening.

The two sides previously met in the Turkish city in May and June, which resulted in exchanges of prisoners and soldiers' bodies, but nothing resembling a move towards peace.

07/23/2025July 23, 2025

Ukraine and Russia delegation chiefs meet — reports

The negotiation team leaders from Ukraine and Russia are in one-on-one talks in Istanbul, news agencies have reported.

Russia's Vladimir Medinsky and Ukraine's Rustem Umerov reportedly met ahead of a third round of peace talks.

07/23/2025July 23, 2025

Zelenskyy to submit new bill following criticism on law restricting anti-graft bodies

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he would submit a new bill to parliament amid strong opposition to legislation restricting the independence of anti-corruption bodies.

In his evening address, Zelenskyy committed to retaining the agencies' independence, saying "all standards for the independence of anti-corruption institutions will be in place."

Zelenskyy promised that the new law on the function of anti-corruption bodies would answer the concerns of those who have taken to the streets in the largest protests seen in Ukraine since the start of the war.

On Tuesday, parliament in Kyiv passed laws placing the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) largely under the control of the Prosecutor General's Office.

Allies reacted with concern, worrying that the move would undermine anti-corruption reforms key to Ukraine's bid to join the European Union.

European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen demanded "explanations" from Zelenskyy over the change, the EU said Wednesday. 

"President von der Leyen conveyed her strong concerns about the consequences of the amendments," the AFP news agency quoted EU spokesman Guillaume Mercier as saying.

07/23/2025July 23, 2025

Suspected operator of Russian cybercrime platform arrested

Ukrainian authorities have arrested the alleged operator of a large Russian-language cybercrime platform in a joint operation with French authorities and Europol.

In a statement, Europol said that a lengthy investigation by French police, in cooperation with Ukrainian counterparts, led to the arrest of the suspected administrator of xss.is, which it said was one of the worlds "most influential Russian-speaking cybercrime platforms."

Europol said that the forum had more than 50,000 registered users and was a key marketplace for stolen data, hacking tools and also illicit services.

The suspect is believed to have made over €7 million ($8.2 million) by allegedly mediating disputes between criminals while guaranteeing the security of transactions.

Before his arrest in Kyiv, the suspect is believed to have been active for over two decades.

The Paris public prosecutor's office has been investigating the platform since 2021 on charges including gang-related extortion and aiding and abetting attacks on data processing systems.

07/23/2025July 23, 2025

Ukraine's delegation arrives in Istanbul for talks

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said its delegation has arrived in Istanbul for talks with Russia.

Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi confirmed the arrival of the team, that will once again be led by former defense minister, Rustem Umerov.

Earlier, Russian media outlets reported that the Kremlin team led by Vladimir Medinsky had arrived in Istanbul and that the talks were expected to begin in the evening at the Ciragan Palace.

07/23/2025July 23, 2025

Germany's FM Wadephul says Zelenskyy's anti-corruption law change hampers Ukrainian EU aspirations

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told German news outlet Bild that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's move to remove the independence of two key anti-corruption bodies hampers Ukraine's path to the EU membership. 

Zelenskyy has often expressed that one day he would like Ukraine to join the 27-member European Union.  

"The restrictions on the independence of the Ukrainian anti-corruption authorities hampers Ukraine's path to the EU," Wadephul said. "I expect Ukraine to continue its fight against corruption consistently."  

Zelenskyy signed off on legislation that would put the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) under the direct purview of Ukraine's prosecutor general. The Ukrainian prosecutor general was appointed by Zelenskyy. 

Zelenskyy's support of the legislation has sparked the first widespread anti-government demonstrations in Ukraine since the start of Russia's invasion in February 2022. 

The Ukrainian leader met with Ukrainian anti-corruption and security agencies in a meeting on Wednesday. 

"We all hear what society says," Zelenskyy wrote on the social media platform Telegram, while pledging to "resolve existing issues."

Bild reported Wadephul spoke with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Wednesday and urged the Ukrainian side to keep up anti-corruption efforts. 

07/23/2025July 23, 2025

Germany's defense minister Pistorius urges US assurance on Patriots for Ukraine

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius called for US President Donald Trump's administration to provide "watertight" assurances in regards to Patriot air-defense systems for Ukraine. 

Pistorius told German news outlet Spiegel that Germany and its NATO allies need guarantees that US-manufactured Patriot systems delivered to Ukraine would be replaced within a timeframe of about six to eight months.  

Pistorius's comments come after Trump said European NATO countries could buy weapons from the US which could then be delivered for Ukraine to defend itself amid Russia's invasion. 

The US is seeking for Germany and other European countries to send Patriot systems to Ukraine first from their own stocks. Then, the US would send replacement Patriot systems to European allies. 

This arrangement has led to concern from Germany as Pistorius told Spiegel its necessary that "the countries transferring systems continue to meet their NATO requirements and that no security gaps arise for NATO." 

Earlier this week, Germany said it would "contribute to providing" five Patriot missile defense systems to Ukraine. 

07/23/2025July 23, 2025

Anne Applebaum: 'If you want peace, you must arm Ukraine'

Konstantin Eggert

Anne Applebaum is an award-winning historian, writer, and publicist.

In an interview with DW, she shared her insights on Russian President Vladimir Putin's goals in Ukraine.

She also explained what she thinks the West doesn't understand about Putin, and vice versa. 

07/23/2025July 23, 2025

Russia on Istanbul talks: 'No one expects an easy road'

Russia said the direct talks in Istanbul later on Wednesday with Ukrainian officials will be "very difficult."

"Indeed, our delegation has left for Istanbul, and talks are indeed scheduled for this evening... No one expects an easy road. It will be very difficult," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists, with French news agency AFP reporting on the comments.  

Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia is seeking to solidify its control over areas in eastern Ukraine, whereas Ukraine wants Russian troops to leave those regions and to stop the invasion to ensure peace.   

07/23/2025July 23, 2025

Ukraine loses French fighter jet over technical failure

Ukraine started receiving the French Mirage jets earlier this year [FILE: March 2022]Image: Didier Lauras/AFP/Getty Images

Ukraine's air force has lost one of its French Mirage fighter jets, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, attributing the loss to technical failure.

In a video message on X, Zelenskyy said the pilot had ejected safely and there were no injuries or fatalities from the incident. He also clarified that it was not caused by Russian forces.

Meanwhile the Ukrainian Air Force said: "The pilot reported a failure of aviation equipment to the flight director. He then acted competently, as is expected in a crisis situation, and successfully ejected." 

The fighter jet was part of an undisclosed number of Mirages France delivered to Ukraine in February, an important addition to the war-ravaged nation's defenses against Russian drones and missiles.

07/23/2025July 23, 2025

US sanction on Russian oil a 'real possibility' : Energy Chief tells Fox News

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said that sanctioning Russian oil in a bid to end the war in Ukraine is a "very real possibility," while speaking to broadcaster Fox News.

This comes after President Donald Trump said Washington could put 100% tariffs on Russian oil, among other sanctions, if Moscow does not agree on a peace deal with Ukraine before September.

"It is huge pressure on Russia. That's the biggest pressure you can put on them," Wright said in the interview. 

The EU and the US already have some sanctions on Russian energy enterprises but Russia has managed to sell most of its oil via so-called 'shadow fleets' of oil tankers operating around the globe under other country's flags.

Wright said a higher level of sanctions was now possible becasue the US has become the world's top producer of oil and gas. "We're able to do things that we couldn't do before," he said. 

07/23/2025July 23, 2025

Chinese Commerce Minister raises objections with EU over sanctions

China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao has registered "solemn representations" to his EU counterpart as the bloc included two Chinese banks in its latest round of sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine. 

The objections were expressed in a "candid and in-depth" video call with EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic on Tuesday, Beijing said. 

The comments come a day before EU heads Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen will arrive in Beijing for talks with Chinese leaders over sensitive issues like trade and the war in Ukraine. 

China has called the sanctions on its banks "groundless" and lacking a basis in international law.

China's economic relations with Moscow have deepened significantly since the war in Ukraine began in 2022, which Brussles believes is instrumental in supporting Russia's economy weather the war under sweeping western sanctions. China has denied the claim. 

07/23/2025July 23, 2025

Protests after Zelenskyy signs bill to limit autonomy of anti-corruption watchdogs

Protesters urged President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to veto the billImage: Danylo Antoniuk/Anadolu/picture alliance

Thousands of people gathered in Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine late on Tuesday after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a controversial bill to limit the autonomy of two anti-corruption bodies.

The changes grant the prosecutor general new authority over investigations and cases handled by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). 

Critics, including some EU officials, say the move will significantly weaken the independence of the two agencies and give Zelenskyy's circle greater sway over investigations.

"In effect, if this bill becomes law, the head of SAPO will become a nominal figure, while NABU will lose its independence and turn into a subdivision of the prosecutor general's office," the two agencies said in a joint statement on Telegram. 

Tuesday's protest was unusual as most other wartime rallies focused on securing the return of captured soldiers or missing people.

The protesters held signs that read "Veto the law" and "Protect the anti-corruption system, protect Ukraine's future," among other slogans.

"Corruption is a problem in any country, and it must always be fought," said Ihor Lachenkov, a blogger and activist who urged more than a million online followers to join the protests.

"Ukraine has far fewer resources than Russia in this war," he said. "If we misuse them, or worse, allow them to end up in the pockets of thieves, our chances of victory diminish. All our resources must go toward the fight."

07/23/2025July 23, 2025

Ukrainian, Russian delegations to meet in Istanbul

Officials from Ukraine and Russia are set to meet for a third round of talks in Istanbul on Wednesday.

But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dampened expectations, saying the talks would likely focus on another round of prisoner of war swaps rather than details of a ceasefire.

"We need more momentum in the negotiations to end the war," Zelenskyy told diplomats in Kyiv on Monday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said that "major diplomatic work" was still needed in order to negotiate a ceasefire.

A key point of contention is Kyiv's calls for an unconditional ceasefire, as opposed to Russia maintaining its maximum demands that include the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the eastern regions of the country Moscow illegally annexed.

07/23/2025July 23, 2025

Welcome to our coverage

Welcome to DW's coverage of the latest developments in Russia's war in Ukraine.

Ukrainian and Russian delegations are set to meet in Istanbul for a fresh round of ceasefire talks on Wednesday. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the meeting would focus on exchanging prisoners of war rather than ending the conflict.

Separately, Zelenskyy signed a new law restricting autonomy of Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies, sparking rare protests in Kyiv.

Stay tuned for the latest news and analysis from the ongoing war.