Russian and Ukrainian negotiators reconvened face-to-face in Istanbul on Tuesday, marking the first in-person talks in over seven weeks. This third round of Turkey-mediated discussions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated, should pave the way for a potential peace summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, the Kremlin cautioned that “complex preparatory work” is required first.
During the talks, the delegations agreed to exchange 1,200 prisoners of war each, Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky confirmed.
Prior to the meeting, Zelensky posted on X that Ukrainian representatives “will once again insist on the urgent necessity of a comprehensive ceasefire.” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan echoed this, stating, “The ultimate objective is naturally a ceasefire that builds the path to peace.” Russia, however, reiterated that a ceasefire is only possible alongside a comprehensive agreement on a lasting peace settlement.
The Ukrainian delegation, again led by former Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, arrived in the Bosphorus city following a meeting in Ankara between Ukrainian Presidential Office Head Andriy Yermak and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Yermak noted on Telegram that the discussion included potential “further defence cooperation” between Ukraine and Turkey.
Preceding the main session at Çırağan Palace, a trilateral meeting occurred between Minister Fidan, Umerov, and Medinsky.
Ahead of the talks, Zelensky declared Ukraine “ready to work as productively as possible” towards peace and preparing “a leaders’ meeting for the real end of this war.” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that after prior prisoner swaps, this round aimed to start work on “preparing the summit meeting,” though he described this as “complex” work requiring alignment between the two sides’ “diametrically opposed” peace proposals. “Nobody expects an easy path,” Peskov added.
On the ground, Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed its forces seized another village, Varachino, in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region. Ukrainian authorities reported Russian attacks in Sumy and Kherson killed two civilians and wounded 30 others in the past 24 hours, while also asserting Russian military losses exceeded one million since the conflict began. In Russia’s Rostov region, the governor stated three people were wounded in a Ukrainian drone attack.
Concurrently, the Russian Navy announced the start of large-scale “Ocean Shield – July” naval drills involving its Northern, Pacific, Baltic Fleets, and Caspian Flotilla. The exercises will reportedly involve around 150 warships, 120 aircraft, and over 15,000 personnel.
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