Russia and Ukraine to Hold Third Round of Talks in Istanbul Today

Kokcha News Agency: The Russian delegation has departed for Istanbul, where they are expected to hold talks with Ukrainian representatives today, July 24. The negotiations, hosted by Turkey, aim to address key issues such as a ceasefire, prisoner exchanges, and the potential for a peace agreement.

The Russian state news agency TASS reported that the Russian delegation, led by Vladimir Medinsky, has left Moscow for Istanbul. On the Ukrainian side, the delegation will be headed by Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.

Agenda for the Talks
According to Anadolu Agency (AA), the negotiations at the Çırağan Palace will focus on several critical issues:

1. Ceasefire and Peace Agreement: Both sides are expected to discuss the terms of a potential ceasefire and peace agreement.
2. Prisoner Exchange: The talks will address the exchange of prisoners of war, a topic that has seen some progress in previous meetings.
3. Ukrainian Children in Russia: The issue of Ukrainian children reportedly held in Russia will also be on the agenda.
4. Potential Putin-Zelensky Meeting: Preparations for a possible meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may also be discussed.

Previous Talks and Expectations
This will be the third round of talks held in Istanbul, following meetings on May 16 and June 2. While previous negotiations have resulted in prisoner exchanges, significant progress toward a ceasefire has yet to be achieved.

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has tempered expectations, stating, “The solution to the Ukraine crisis is so difficult that even agreements on prisoner and body exchanges are a success. Therefore, there is no reason to expect miracles from the talks.”