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Senior delegations from Türkiye, Russia and Ukraine convened Monday at Istanbul's Ciragan Palace for a second round of trilateral cease-fire negotiations, marking the first such high-level talks between the warring parties in three years.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is chairing the discussions, joined by Chief of General Staff Gen. Metin Gurak and National Intelligence Organization Director Ibrahim Kalin in Türkiye's delegation.
The Russian delegation includes Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Defense Minister Aleksandr Fomin, and Main Intelligence Directorate Chief Igor Kostyukov.
Ukraine's representatives comprise Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya, Security Service Deputy Head Oleksandr Poklad, and Foreign Intelligence Service First Deputy Head Oleh Luhovskyi.
In his opening remarks, Fidan emphasized Türkiye's commitment to facilitating dialogue between the two nations. "The discussions held here will be decisive for our common destiny both regionally and globally," he said. "The eyes of the entire world are focused on the contacts and discussions you will have here. We wholeheartedly believe that you will take advantage of this opportunity to the fullest and achieve concrete results that will bring us one step closer to peace."
The talks represent a diplomatic breakthrough after years of stalled negotiations. Türkiye previously brought Russian and Ukrainian delegations together in Antalya and Istanbul shortly after the war began in February 2022, but Monday's meeting marks the first such gathering since May 2022.
During preliminary negotiations held at the Dolmabahce Presidential Office in Istanbul on May 16, both sides agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each and to present detailed positions on a potential ceasefire framework. The prisoner exchange was completed on May 25, according to announcements from both countries.
"The Russian delegation previously received a version of the memorandum concerning a peaceful resolution from Ukraine," Medinsky stated, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that Russia had not yet shared its own memorandum.
Türkiye's successful mediation efforts have positioned Ankara as a key diplomatic bridge between Moscow and Kyiv throughout the conflict, leveraging its relationships with both nations to facilitate dialogue when other international efforts have stalled.
The current talks are expected to focus on establishing a framework for sustained ceasefire arrangements and prisoner exchanges as both sides seek pathways toward broader peace negotiations.
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