Ukraine, Russia may discuss Zelenskyy-Putin meeting at talks in Istanbul - Reuters
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin (collage by RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine will raise the issue of a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin at the talks in Istanbul on May 16, reports Reuters.
According to a diplomatic source, Ukraine's priority in negotiations with the Russian delegation is a ceasefire.
According to the Reuters source, Ukrainian negotiators will also raise the possibility of a personal meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin.
“We understand that for any diplomacy to be resultative, there needs to be a ceasefire. Real, durable and well-monitored. There also needs to be humanitarian confidence-building measures, such as the return of Ukrainian children, detained civilians, (and the) exchange of prisoners of war on the all-for-all basis,” the source said.
Talks between Ukraine and Russia
Today, May 16, the first direct talks between Ukraine and Russia in three years are taking place in Istanbul. The Ukrainian delegation is headed by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, while the Russian delegation is headed by Putin's aide Vladimir Medinsky.
The composition of the Russian side at the talks was questionable, as Putin sent low-level officials to Istanbul.
Russian media reported that the Russian side wants talks without the participation of the United States. RBC-Ukraine's sources confirm that the talks between Ukraine and Russia are likely to be in a bilateral format.
Ukraine has already held talks with representatives of the United States and Türkiye in Istanbul. The Ukrainian team also met with security advisors from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France.
Read more about the talks in Istanbul in RBC-Ukraine's coverage.
