Second meeting of Ukrainian and Russian delegations kicked off in Ciragan Palace in Istanbul
The second round of negotiations between the delegations of Ukraine and the Russian Federation began in Istanbul, Turkey on Monday, June 2.
The meeting, as during the first round on May 16, is taking place at the Ciragan Palace under the coordination of the Turkish side.
The Ukrainian delegation arrived in Istanbul on Monday, June 2, where the second round of talks between Ukraine and Russia will take place. As Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhy told journalists, the meeting is scheduled for the afternoon.
Turkish media reported that the negotiations would begin at 13:00 Kyiv time.
Also, in the morning in Istanbul, First Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsia and member of the Ukrainian delegation, freelance adviser to the head of the President's Office, Oleksandr Bevz held a meeting with representatives of Germany, Italy and Great Britain. The parties coordinated their positions on the eve of today's meeting of the Ukrainian and Russian delegations.
Later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said before the Bucharest Nine and Nordic Summit on June 2 that he was not sure that the Russians would be ready for a productive meeting in Istanbul, but that the issue of a ceasefire and the return of children abducted by Russia was important for Ukraine. The president also stressed that if Russia undermines the initial program for negotiations in Istanbul (ceasefire, release of prisoners and return of abducted children), then it is necessary to urgently impose new strong sanctions against the Russian Federation.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy approved the composition of the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul. It is headed by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. The delegation also includes, in particular, Advisor to the Head of the President’s Office Oleksandr Bevz, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Ukrainian Navy Command Oleksandr Dyakov, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Serhiy Kyslytsia, Deputy Chief of the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense (GUR) Vadym Skybytsky, Deputy Chairman of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Oleksandr Poklad, First Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Intelligence Service Oleh Luhovskoy, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksiy Shevchenko.
The Russian delegation, as during the first round of negotiations on May 16, is headed by Vladimir Putin's assistant, Vladimir Medinsky.
As reported, on May 28, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said that Ukraine had fulfilled its part of the agreements at the first meeting in Istanbul on May 16 and handed over to Russia a document that reflects Ukraine's position on the terms of the ceasefire, but the Russian side is delaying the implementation of this agreement.
In an evening address on June 1, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that "the Russians have not handed over their 'memorandum' to anyone." According to him, neither the Ukrainian, Turkish, nor American sides have the document.