Ukrainian, Russian delegations arrive at site of negotiations in Istanbul for peace talks Updated / video

The Ukrainian and Russian delegations have arrived at the Çırağan Palace in Istanbul for a new round of negotiations.

The Ukrainian delegation is led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and includes First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya, Deputy Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Oleksandr Poklad, and First Deputy Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service Oleh Luhovskyi, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

Two additional members have joined the Ukrainian side for this round of talks: Yuriy Kovbasa, representing the Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights in the defence and security sector, and Lieutenant General Yevhen Ostrianskyi, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The Russian delegation, led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, also arrived at the Çırağan Palace. Andrei Fomin, deputy head of the international and operational law division at the General Staff’s Central Legal Directorate, is attending in place of Colonel Alexei Malovatsky.

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The Ukrainian delegation has arrived in Istanbul ahead of scheduled negotiations with Russian representatives, officials confirmed.

Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told journalists that the meeting is planned for this afternoon at 1:00 pm local time, to be held at the historic Çırağan Palace, Caliber.Az reports citing Ukrainian media.

The decision was influenced by the palace’s capacity and Türkiye’s desire to highlight its landmarks.

The delegation, appointed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will be led by Ukraine’s Minister of Defence, Rustem Umerov. The talks form part of a broader diplomatic effort involving Ukraine’s international partners to reach a just and sustainable peace agreement.

Earlier, President Zelenskyy convened a preparatory meeting to coordinate Ukraine’s approach ahead of the Istanbul discussions, underscoring the significance of these talks in the ongoing conflict. Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Fidan is expected to attend the talks.

To recall, on May 16, 2025, Russia and Ukraine held their first direct peace talks in over three years in Istanbul, marking a significant yet cautious step toward resolving the ongoing conflict. The discussions, lasting less than two hours, culminated in an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war from each side—the largest such swap since the war began in February 2022.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov led Kyiv's delegation, emphasizing the urgency of an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, the return of deported children, and the release of civilian hostages. Ukraine also insisted on maintaining its sovereignty, including the right to join the EU and NATO, and demanded reparations for war damages.

Conversely, Russia, represented by Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky, arrived without a formal memorandum, stating that its conditions would be disclosed during the discussions. Moscow's broader demands reportedly included halting NATO expansion and lifting sanctions—terms deemed unacceptable by Ukraine and its Western allies.

Despite the lack of progress on a ceasefire, both parties agreed to continue dialogue. The prisoner exchange proceeded over several days, with the second day on May 24 seeing 307 military personnel swapped from each side. 

By Aghakazim Guliyev