The third round of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine is expected to take place today in Istanbul, as announced by Kyiv, with Moscow launching a new barrage of attacks against three major Ukrainian cities just before the two sides sit down at the negotiating table again. Meanwhile, the Kremlin is keeping expectations low, citing opposing positions.
The talks are expected to be held in Istanbul, according to a Turkish government spokesperson – in the same venue that hosted the May and June rounds, without substantial results. As announced, the former defense minister will lead the Ukrainian delegation. Kyiv’s goal is to end the war. “The delegation will be led by Rustem Umerov,” who was appointed secretary of Ukraine’s National Security Council a few days ago, and it “will include representatives of intelligence services,” Ukrainian diplomacy and the presidency, Volodymyr Zelensky stated on social media.
Discussion topics will include new prisoner exchanges and the repatriation of Ukrainian children from Russia.
What Russia and Ukraine seek at the negotiating table
The meeting will be the third round of negotiations between Ukrainians and Russians under this format. The two previous rounds had taken place under pressure from US President Donald Trump. They resulted in exchanges of prisoners and bodies of soldiers who lost their lives in the war.
So far, the positions of both sides appear irreconcilable. Russia wants Ukraine to cede the four provinces it occupied, plus Crimea which it annexed in 2014, and not to join NATO.
Ukraine does not accept these conditions. It wants Russian soldiers to withdraw from its territory and Western security guarantees. Moscow rejects these terms.
New attacks on Kyiv – Underground shelters targeted
Hours before the announcement of the talks, a Russian attack with drones and missiles swept the Ukrainian capital. The Ukrainian air force reported 450 attacks in one night – a record number, with two dead and many wounded.
Fires broke out in six districts of Kyiv, hitting supermarkets, residences, kindergartens and even an underground metro station where citizens had taken shelter. The shelter suffered serious damage.
During his visit to Kyiv, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot noted that not even underground shelters are safe anymore. “The metro station behind me, which is used as a shelter, was targeted,” he said characteristically.
Russia claims the attacks targeted military facilities and that it destroyed three American Patriot launchers – something Kyiv has not confirmed.
With information from ERT, archive photo
