Ukrainian defence minister keeps silent on next steps as talks shift to new modalities

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, leading his country's delegation at the ongoing negotiations in Istanbul, Türkiye declined to reveal specifics about the next steps, noting that the discussions have shifted to other modalities and the exchange of documents. 

When questioned about the future direction of the talks, Umerov responded simply, "We will inform you", Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

However, Umerov did not offer further clarification on the specific content or aspects of these materials. Following the conclusion of the meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that both the Russian and Ukrainian delegations had reached a principle agreement to schedule another round of negotiations. The Russian delegation is expected to leave Istanbul and return to Moscow on May 16.

The Istanbul meeting marked the first face-to-face discussions between Russian and Ukrainian representatives since 2022. Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who led the Russian delegation, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the talks, noting that the Russian side felt satisfied with the results.

By Naila Huseynova