Ukraine and Russia begin second round of peace talks in Istanbul

The meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations is taking place in Istanbul, Türkiye, at the Çırağan Palace.

According to media reports, the talks were scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. But later it became known that preparations for the meeting were underway.

A delegation from Türkiye, led by their Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is also present at the meeting as a mediator. The Chief of the General Staff, General Metin Gürak, and the Chief of Intelligence, İbrahim Kalın are also part of the Turkish side.

Before the start of direct negotiations, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan delivered a speech.

What he said:

• the meeting of the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul is aimed at discussing preparations for a possible meeting at the president's level;
• the meeting is intended to achieve progress on humanitarian issues, including the exchange of prisoners;
• the Russian and Ukrainian delegations will discuss prospects for a ceasefire and their respective positions;
• Türkiye expects the meeting to be productive;
• Türkiye is ready to do whatever is necessary to resolve the conflict.

Today, the Russian delegation plans to present the memorandum outlining its own vision of a ceasefire.

Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak responded, stating that Ukraine is ready for the next round of negotiations with Russia but wants to receive the memorandum on a possible ceasefire ahead of the meeting.

Composition of the delegations

Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky, by a separate decree, approved the composition of the Ukrainian delegation. It will once again be headed by Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov.

It also includes:

• First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergiy Kyslytsya;

• Deputy Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Oleksandr Poklad;

• First Deputy Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service Oleh Luhovskyi;

• Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksii Shevchenko;

• Deputy Chief of the Defense Intelligence Vadym Skibitskyi;

• Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force Command Yevhen Shynkarov;

• Deputy Chief of Staff of the Navy Command Oleksandr Diakov;

• Senior Officer of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff Oleksandr Sherikhov;

• Protocol Officer of the Service Support Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Heorhii Kuzmychov;

• Adviser to the Head of the Presidential Office Oleksandr Bevz.

There have been changes in the composition of the delegation compared to the meeting on May 16. The head of the Directorate of International and Operational Law of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksii Malovatskyi, has been replaced by his deputy Andrii Fomin.

Besides, participating in the negotiations will be the Representative of the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights in the security and defense system Yurii Kovbasa and Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Yevhenii Ostrianskyi.

Russia

Russian president Vladimir Putin has not changed the composition of the Russian delegation. It is headed by Putin’s aide Vladimir Medinsky.

Also on the list:

• Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Mikhail Galuzin;

• Head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of Russia Igor Kostyukov;

• Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia for International Cooperation Alexandr Fomin.