New direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine began in Istanbul on Monday afternoon, one day after Ukraine launched an unprecedented drone attack on Russian warplanes. TV footage showed delegations from both sides meeting at the Çırağan Palace.
In separate statements, both sides expressed their vastly different demands for an end to the fighting ahead of the talks. Ukraine, which has been fending off a Russian invasion for over three years, is calling for an unconditional and internationally monitored 30-day ceasefire, based on a US proposal.
Russia, on the other hand, is attaching conditions to a ceasefire, including that Ukraine refrain from receiving arms supplies from the West and stop mobilising. In this way, Moscow aims to prevent Kyiv from using a ceasefire to prepare for further conflict.
Large-scale drone attack
The negotiations began just one day after Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on Russian air forces on Sunday. The operation reportedly hit four military bases and over 40 warplanes, often located thousands of kilometres from the Ukrainian border.
This is the second round of talks since mid-May, when the only concrete agreement reached by the parties was the exchange of 1,000 prisoners. Prior to this, the warring parties had not spoken directly to each other since 2022.
The Russian delegation is once again being led by presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky, while the Ukrainian delegation is being led by defence minister Rustem Umerov.
