Ukrainian delegates arrived in Turkey on July 23 for the third round of peace negotiations with Russia, Suspilne broadcaster reported, citing a source in the Presidential Office.
The Russian state media also wrote that a Russian delegation has departed for the talks, which are scheduled to start at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul at 7 p.m. local time.
The Ukrainian negotiating team, led by National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, will first meet Turkish officials in Ankara before heading to Istanbul, according to Suspilne.
The talks will follow the previous two rounds of negotiations with Russia, held in Istanbul in May and June. These failed to achieve a breakthrough in ending the hostilities but led to new agreements on prisoner exchanges.
The chief task for Umerov's team during the upcoming round is to facilitate a face-to-face meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainska Pravda and Suspilne reported, citing sources.
Other priorities publicly outlined by Zelensky are further exchanges of civilian and military captives and the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. While Zelensky has repeatedly voiced readiness to meet Putin, the Russian leader has thus far refused to attend the talks in person.
Apart from Umerov, the Ukrainian delegation includes 13 representatives from the Foreign Ministry, military intelligence (HUR), and the Presidential Office, including First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya, presidential advisor Oleksandr Bevz, and deputy military intelligence chief Vadym Skybytskyi.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on July 21 that Putin's aide, Vladimir Medinsky, would continue to lead the Russian delegation.
Peskov also reiterated that Moscow's war goals remain unchanged and are to be achieved "on the battlefield," reflecting an increasingly open admission that Russia has no intention to stop on the battlefield.
Ukraine has proposed a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in both rounds of talks — a position supported by the U.S. — but Russia has so far rejected the proposal.
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