Media: Russia, Ukraine may hold peace talks in Istanbul this week

The third round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine could take place in Istanbul on July 23 or 24, according to Independent Türkçe, which cited unnamed diplomatic sources.

"A meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations is expected in Istanbul this week. The talks may be held on Wednesday or Thursday. Information regarding the location, time, and composition of the delegations is not being disclosed," the source told the paper, Caliber.Az cites.

The upcoming negotiations are expected to focus on key humanitarian and security concerns, including prisoner exchanges, humanitarian aid, infrastructure protection, and border security measures.

On July 19, Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council Secretary Rustem Umerov publicly proposed resuming negotiations with Moscow, following an announcement by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Telegram.

Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire began in March 2022, when high-level delegations from both sides met in Istanbul and produced the so-called Istanbul Communiqué. That draft framework suggested Ukraine’s neutrality, limitations on foreign military presence, and mutual security guarantees from both Russia and Western powers.

However, after a three-year halt in direct diplomacy, Russia and Ukraine resumed face-to-face talks in Istanbul in May 2025. Those talks, led by Umerov and Russian envoy Vladimir Medinsky, resulted in a major prisoner exchange involving 1,000 detainees from each side, as well as arrangements to repatriate the remains of thousands of fallen soldiers.

A second round of talks followed in June 2025, though it brought little progress. While both sides reaffirmed commitments to continue prisoner swaps and the return of soldiers’ bodies—reportedly 6,000 from each side—core issues such as a comprehensive ceasefire, the status of Crimea, and Ukraine’s potential NATO membership remained unresolved. Ukraine also raised concerns about the forced deportation of children, a charge Russia dismissed as politically motivated.

Despite deep divisions, Istanbul has remained a consistent venue for diplomacy between the two sides, with Türkiye maintaining its role as a key mediator in the ongoing efforts to de-escalate the war.

By Sabina Mammadli