Umerov did not hold one-on-one meeting with Medinsky in Istanbul, source says
Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council (photo: Getty Images)
Russian media are spreading rumors about a bilateral meeting between the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umerov, and the head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, in Istanbul. This is false information, according to RBC‑Ukraine's source.
Russian propaganda outlets, citing their own sources, have circulated claims that Umerov and Medinsky are allegedly holding a bilateral meeting at the Çırağan Palace in Istanbul.
What actually happened
RBC-Ukraine's source denies the Russian claim.
"There was no one-on-one meeting between Umerov and Medinsky. Just like last time, there was only a brief preparatory meeting with three participants — Umerov, Fidan (Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan), and Medinsky," the source emphasized.
Istanbul talks
Ukrainian and Russian delegations are scheduled to hold a third round of negotiations in Istanbul today, July 23.
Russian media have already reported that the talks are underway, but RBC-Ukraine's sources do not confirm this information.
According to RBC-Ukraine's interlocutors, the key topic on the agenda is expected to be the organization of a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
President Zelenskyy has repeatedly emphasized that only a direct meeting between the two leaders can bring peace closer.
Full details on the new round of talks in Istanbul are available in RBC-Ukraine's coverage.
