Istanbul: Russia and Ukraine are set to hold another round of peace talks in Istanbul, as announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The discussions are scheduled for Wednesday and are aimed at addressing ongoing hostilities between the two nations.
According to BBC, Zelensky revealed these plans in his daily address, mentioning a meeting with Ukrainian Security Council chief Rustem Umerov. Umerov informed Zelensky about the preparations for a prisoner exchange and the scheduled meeting with the Russian delegation in Turkey. This development follows US President Donald Trump's recent warning of significant sanctions against Russia if a ceasefire is not established within 50 days.
Previous direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv, held in Istanbul, have not resulted in progress towards a ceasefire, with both parties still disagreeing on key issues. In response to Russia's intensified attacks, Washington has committed to providing new military support to Ukraine.
Tragically, a child was killed when a Russian glide bomb struck an apartment block in Kramatorsk, and Kyiv faced drone and missile attacks. Ukrainian forces have reportedly repelled over 50 attacks in the Pokrovsk area, where Russian forces have been heavily concentrated. Attempts by Russian sabotage groups to infiltrate the city have been thwarted, as reported by Ukraine's military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi.
Russia's RIA news agency, citing a source, indicated that the talks might extend into Thursday and Friday. The Agence France-Presse news agency reported that the discussions would take place at the same location as previous unsuccessful negotiations in May and June.
The upcoming talks represent another effort to end the conflict, ongoing for over three years. These discussions follow Trump's public discontent with Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressing a mix of disappointment and determination in an interview with the BBC.
The Istanbul talks may focus on prisoner exchanges and potentially pave the way for a meeting between Zelensky and Putin, as per a senior Ukrainian official's statement to AFP. Despite this, the Kremlin remains skeptical about immediate outcomes, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasizing that significant diplomatic work is still required.
Russia's recent escalation of drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities has led to a surge in civilian casualties, continuing the conflict that began with its full-scale invasion in 2022.