Istanbul once again takes center stage in international diplomacy as Turkish officials host a high-level trilateral meeting aimed at ending the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
The latest round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine is underway at Istanbul’s Çırağan Palace, under the auspices of the Turkish government. The meeting, led by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, also includes the participation of National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Director İbrahim Kalın and Chief of General Staff General Metin Gürak.
Representing the Russian delegation is Vladimir Medinski, advisor to President Vladimir Putin, while the Ukrainian delegation is headed by Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council.
The agenda focuses on critical humanitarian and security issues, including the exchange of prisoners, the return of abducted children, and steps to halt further bloodshed.
This marks the third time in the past five months that the two sides have come together in Istanbul for direct negotiations. The previous round, held on June 2, resulted in significant progress, particularly in regard to prisoner exchange agreements.
Turkey continues to position itself as a key mediator in the conflict, leveraging its strategic relationships with both Kyiv and Moscow to facilitate dialogue and pursue a diplomatic resolution to the war that began on February 24, 2022.
