Russian delegation departs for Istanbul to resume Ukraine talks

A Russian delegation has flown from Moscow to Istanbul to take part in the third round of negotiations with Ukraine, a source told TASS.

The meeting is scheduled to be held at the historic Çırağan Palace in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district, the same location where previous talks between the two sides took place. The session is expected to begin around 7 p.m. local time.

These discussions are unfolding against the backdrop of intensifying international efforts to broker a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict. Türkiye continues to serve as a key mediator, hosting both delegations in a venue chosen for its diplomatic significance.

The upcoming negotiations are expected to address unresolved disputes from earlier meetings, while also exploring concrete measures to de-escalate the situation on the ground.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv’s priorities for the Istanbul round include securing the release of additional Ukrainian prisoners held by Russia and obtaining the return of children whom Ukraine claims were forcibly taken.

By Tamilla Hasanova