Russia and Ukraine are scheduled to meet in Istanbul on Wednesday evening for their third round of direct talks. Both delegations are already en route to the Turkish city, as confirmed by sources close to the negotiations.
According to Russian state news agency TASS, the talks are expected to begin upon the delegations’ arrival tonight. A source from the Russian delegation stated, “This evening, upon arrival,” when asked about the expected start time.
Delegation Leaders
Heading the Russian delegation is Kremlin advisor Vladimir Medinsky. Representing Ukraine is Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council. Both figures have played prominent roles in earlier discussions and are set to lead their respective sides during this latest round of negotiations.
Previous Talks in Istanbul
The two prior rounds of talks also took place in Istanbul, on May 16 and June 2.
- May 16 Talks: During the first round, both sides agreed to a prisoner exchange involving 1,000 detainees from each side. They also exchanged memoranda outlining potential pathways toward resolving the ongoing conflict.
- June 2 Talks: The second round focused on humanitarian issues. The parties shared draft memoranda for a peaceful resolution and reached an agreement to exchange seriously wounded prisoners of war as well as the bodies of fallen soldiers. Moscow subsequently returned several thousand bodies to Kyiv.
More updates will follow as the talks unfold.
