Upcoming Peace Talks: A New Chance for Dialogue Between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul

The Kremlin has confirmed that representatives from Russia and Ukraine will gather for a third round of peace negotiations in Turkey on Wednesday evening.

«Our delegation is on its way to Istanbul, and indeed, discussions are planned for tonight,» stated Dmitry Peskov, the chief spokesperson, to the media. He also mentioned that Kremlin advisor Vladimir Medinsky would head the Russian delegation, just as he did in the previous rounds.

«The primary focus of the discussions will be the peace proposals exchanged during the second round of negotiations,» Peskov added.

Last month, President Vladimir Putin remarked that the peace demands from both Russia and Ukraine are currently «completely contradictory,» but emphasized that the ongoing discussions aim to «align these positions.»

Peskov later informed the press that the two sides would also address the possibility of additional prisoner exchanges during this third round of talks. «Other matters may be brought up if necessary,» he noted.

Earlier, the Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform reported, based on information from the Turkish presidency’s communications department, that the talks are set to commence at 7 p.m. local time.

According to a source cited by RIA Novosti, the meeting is anticipated to take place at Çırağan Palace, a former Ottoman palace that now functions as a luxury hotel, although Peskov did not verify the exact venue.

Ahead of the talks, Moscow has sought to temper expectations. Earlier this week, Peskov told journalists that it would be «misguided» to hope for a breakthrough or to establish a timeline for a peace agreement, referencing «numerous factors» complicating the negotiations.

On Tuesday, Peskov reiterated this cautious outlook, stating, «No one expects an easy path. Naturally, this will be a very challenging discussion. The peace proposals from Ukraine and Russia are fundamentally opposed.»

Meanwhile, President Zelensky has expressed his readiness for a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, the Kremlin has dismissed this notion, citing a 2022 decree signed by Zelensky that currently prohibits negotiations with Putin.

This year, Russia and Ukraine have engaged in two rounds of direct peace talks, the first occurring on May 16 and the second on June 2.

While these discussions led to significant prisoner exchanges, no substantial progress has been made towards achieving a broader ceasefire or ending Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022.