End of Negotiation Cycle Between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul: Can Initial Steps Toward Peace Be Expected?
The third round of diplomatic talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul has officially concluded, leaving behind efforts to find pathways to peaceful resolution as well as numerous unresolved issues that continue to hinder progress. During this meeting, Ukrainian representatives, led by Rustem Umerov, proposed organizing a summit involving their leaders in the coming months — by the end of August — with the participation of Turkish and U.S. presidents. The goal of such a meeting is to create the prerequisites for direct dialogue between Zelensky and Putin, as their face-to-face encounter is considered by Ukrainian diplomats as potentially capable of rescuing the peace process. The head of the Ukrainian delegation emphasized that success hinges on openness and constructive positions from both sides, but currently, the main obstacle remains the non-cooperative stance of Moscow, complicating efforts to reach compromises. On the other hand, the Russian side, represented by Vladimir Medinsky, announced that all agreements made during the second round of negotiations concerning humanitarian issues have been fulfilled. The ongoing process includes the exchange of prisoners in the format of “250 to 250” at the Ukraine-Belarus border. Medinsky mentioned that Moscow proposed exchanging no less than 1,200 prisoners from each side and is also considering short-term ceasefires lasting 24-48 hours. These measures aim to enable the removal of wounded and deceased, especially given that drone strikes and hostilities pose significant risks to medical teams. Although Ukraine and Russia remain distant on many issues, their contacts — both at delegation levels and within working groups — will continue in search of viable solutions. Currently, the Ukrainian delegation, led by the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, is in Istanbul preparing for the third meeting with Russian representatives, which could become another step toward diplomatic dialogue and peace.