Istanbul: The second round of the Russia-Ukraine peace talks concluded in Istanbul's Ciragan Palace after an extensive session lasting over an hour, as reported by an Anadolu correspondent. The discussions involved a delegation from Russia led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky and a Ukrainian delegation headed by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Ukrainian delegation comprised key figures including the foreign minister, head of intelligence, and chief of the General Staff. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking at a press conference during the Vilnius Summit with B9 and Nordic countries, confirmed the conclusion of talks and stated he was awaiting a report from Umerov. Zelenskyy mentioned that documents were exchanged through the Turkish side and preparations were underway for a new release of prisoners of war.
Following the talks, Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine's presidential office and a delegation member, communicated on Telegram about Ukraine's demand for the return of children "illegally deported, forcibly relocated" to Russia-controlled territories, as claimed by Kyiv. Previously, Istanbul hosted a round of talks on May 16, which led to the largest prisoner exchange between the two nations since the onset of the conflict, now in its fourth year.
Trkiye has consistently maintained strong relations with both Russia and Ukraine during the ongoing war, frequently offering its mediation services to support dialogue and peace initiatives.