On the evening of the 23rd, delegations from Russia and Ukraine held their third round of direct negotiations in the Turkish city of Istanbul. The talks lasted about one hour, and no breakthrough was achieved on core issues such as a meeting between the two countries' leaders or a ceasefire. However, progress was made on humanitarian issues, with both sides agreeing to continue exchanging prisoners.
Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian negotiation delegation and Assistant to the Russian President, stated at a press conference after the talks that the timing is not yet ripe for a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders.
He said that before a direct meeting between the two countries' leaders takes place, both sides must reach agreements on relevant issues, otherwise there will be no basis for such a meeting.
He stated that both sides had agreed to continue the exchange of at least 1,200 captured personnel. The Russian side has already returned 7,000 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers and is ready to return another 3,000.
He pointed out that Russia suggested reaching a 24-hour or 48-hour ceasefire agreement with Ukraine to allow for the treatment of the wounded and the handling of soldiers' remains. Additionally, the Russian side proposed setting up three online working groups with Ukraine to separately address political, humanitarian, and military issues.
Rustem Umerov, head of the Ukrainian negotiation delegation and Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said at another press conference that this round of talks did not reach a ceasefire agreement but achieved some progress on humanitarian issues.
He said Ukraine proposed that leaders of the two countries hold direct talks before the end of August.
This round of negotiations was jointly hosted by Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan and Head of the Turkish National Intelligence Organization Kalin. The previous two rounds of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine on resolving the conflict were also held in Istanbul this May and June.