(MENAFN) The latest, third round of peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine wrapped up at Istanbul’s Ciragan Palace, located on the European side of the Bosporus. This session follows two earlier rounds held in the same city earlier this year. The discussions have largely centered on humanitarian concerns, such as exchanging the remains of fallen soldiers and prisoner swaps. Both parties have also shared draft memorandums presenting their respective visions for a potential peace agreement.

The Russian delegation was led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who has headed previous talks with Ukraine. On the Ukrainian side, the team remained unchanged and was led by Rustem Umerov, the former Defense Minister recently promoted to head the country’s Security Council amid a significant government reshuffle.

Ahead of the talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated the main focus would be on issues related to the exchanged draft memorandums from the previous round, as well as continuing the vital process of prisoner of war exchanges. However, Peskov urged caution about expectations, noting that no one anticipated an easy resolution given the starkly opposing proposals from both sides.

MENAFN24072025000045017281ID1109840776