Ukraine and the Russian Federation have reached a new agreement to resume negotiations, reports the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
According to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Ukrainian and Russian representatives in Istanbul expressed a principled readiness to return to dialogue aimed at finding peaceful solutions to the conflict. This is a significant step toward seeking a diplomatic resolution, as both sides confirmed their openness to continuing negotiations, which aim to halt hostilities and stabilize the situation in the region. Fidan, who was present during the talks, made this statement via his social media account on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing their importance for future peace not only in Ukraine but also worldwide. He stated that the Ukrainian and Russian delegations supported a joint position regarding the exchange of prisoners — an action that could serve as a first, albeit modest, step toward building mutual trust between the parties. Additionally, Ukrainian and Russian representatives agreed in writing on conditions that must be adhered to in order to achieve a long-awaited ceasefire, which, in turn, could lead to the official end of the active phase of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The head of Turkey’s Foreign Ministry described this day as "important for peace in the world." He emphasized that the agreements to continue negotiations demonstrate the political will of both sides, despite everything. These efforts, outlined within the context of recent diplomatic initiatives and multilateral contacts—including international efforts to resolve the crisis through diplomacy—highlight a shared commitment. It is worth recalling that the first direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia in over three years took place on May 16 in Istanbul. Following these negotiations, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov noted that the main issues were the possibility of a ceasefire and humanitarian concerns, including ensuring the safety of civilians and organizing humanitarian corridors. There was also mention of potential high-level meetings between the presidents of Ukraine and Russia. Ultimately, agreements on next steps generated some optimism amid the ongoing crisis that has persisted for over a year. In the context of these active diplomatic efforts, international leaders also voiced their opinions. For example, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak responded to the talks in Turkey, describing Russia’s position as unclear and unacceptable. She believed that Russia’s rhetoric and actions in this context hinder the path toward achieving genuine peace. Thus, today’s events in Istanbul have become a landmark for Ukrainian-Russian diplomatic processes, as both sides demonstrated their willingness to resume discussions on peace. This opens new prospects for resolving the conflict, which has been destroying millions of lives and causing global geopolitical consequences for over a year. However, whether they can demonstrate sincere political will to gradually move toward peace remains a matter of time and the political resolve of all interested parties.