Ukraine starts diplomatic meetings in Ankara ahead of Russia talks

Suspilne and Interfax-Ukraine reported the information.

As of 1:45 p.m., the Ukrainian delegation had arrived in Ankara, where they are holding meetings with Turkish officials. The third round of negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow is scheduled to begin later in the day in Istanbul.

According to Ukrainska Pravda sources, Ukraine's primary objective at the talks is to arrange a personal meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Interfax-Ukraine, citing its own sources, reports that Zelenskyy has set three main items on the agenda for the negotiations with Russia: the exchange of prisoners of war, the return of Ukrainian children, and a direct meeting with Putin.

“The last point is the most important,” the agency's source emphasized. “Such a meeting could lead to a breakthrough in peace efforts and truly put an end to the killings.”

Russia’s state news agency TASS reported that the Russian delegation has also arrived in Istanbul for talks.

According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, the meeting will focus on draft ceasefire memorandums proposed by both Russia and Ukraine, as well as the issue of prisoner exchanges.

“A Russian-Ukrainian meeting on the highest level is only possible once the memorandums are agreed upon — otherwise, it would be pointless,” Peskov said, noting that a “very difficult conversation” is expected in Istanbul.

The Kremlin has not changed the composition of its delegation, which is again headed by Vladimir Medinsky.

Who leads Ukraine's delegation

On July 23, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy approved the list of delegates for Ukraine-Russia negotiations set to take place in Istanbul. The group includes representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the President’s Office, the Armed Forces, the Security Service, and the Defense Intelligence, according to the relevant decree on the president’s website.

The delegation was approved to take part in talks with Ukraine’s international partners and Russian representatives on securing a just and lasting peace. The delegation includes:

• Ruslan Umerov – Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, head of the delegation;
• Oleksandr Bevz – Advisor to the Head of the President’s Office;
• Oleksandr Dyakov – Deputy Chief of Staff, Naval Forces Command;
• Serhiy Kyslytsia – First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs;
• Yuriy Kovbasa – Representative of the Commissioner for Human Rights in the security and defense sector (by consent);
• Heorhiy Kuzmychov – Protocol officer, Office of the Commander-in-Chief;
• Oleh Luhovskyi – First Deputy Head, Foreign Intelligence Service;
• Yevheniy Ostryanskyi – Deputy Chief of the General Staff;
• Oleksandr Poklad – Deputy Head, Security Service of Ukraine;
• Vadym Skibitskyi – Deputy Head, Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense;
• Andriy Fomin – Head of the International Law Department, also Deputy Head of the International and Operational Law Department, Central Legal Directorate of the General Staff;
• Oleksiy Shevchenko – Deputy Chief of the General Staff;
• Oleksandr Sherikhov – Senior Officer, Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff;
• Yevhen Shynkaryov – Deputy Chief, Air Force Command.

The next round of Ukraine-Russia talks will be held on Wednesday, July 23, in Istanbul.