Russia expresses readiness to resume Istanbul talks with Ukraine

Russia is prepared to resume peace negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul, but the next move must come from Kyiv, according to Alexei Polishchuk, head of the Second CIS Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry. 

In an interview with the state news agency TASS, Polishchuk said that talks had been suspended by Ukraine and that Russia’s delegation remained ready to continue discussions whenever Kyiv decided to return to the table, Caliber.Az reports. 

The Russian diplomat noted that Türkiye had repeatedly called for the negotiations to restart and recalled that three rounds of direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives had previously taken place in Istanbul on May 16, June 2, and July 23.

According to Polishchuk, while those talks were difficult, they produced agreements in the humanitarian sphere, including large-scale prisoner exchanges, the repatriation of the bodies of the deceased, and the return of civilians. He added that both sides had exchanged memoranda outlining their respective approaches to a potential settlement.

The diplomat added that Moscow’s proposal to establish three working groups within the framework of the Istanbul process remains unanswered by Ukraine.

By Sabina Mammadli