(MENAFN) Russia has indicated its readiness to resume discussions with Ukraine in Istanbul, yet Kyiv has not replied to prior offers, according to Russia’s charge d’affaires in Türkiye, Alexey Ivanov, on Wednesday.

“The Russian side has repeatedly emphasized that we are ready to continue direct negotiations with the Ukrainian side. Our Turkish partners have also consistently stressed that the Istanbul platform remains available to us — these doors remain open,” Ivanov told a Russian state-run news agency.

Ivanov noted that Moscow had earlier proposed multiple initiatives, including plans to create three virtual working groups, but “unfortunately, we have not yet received a positive response from the Ukrainian side.”

He further remarked that Russia still welcomes communication “if Kyiv shows political will.”

At the same time, Rustem Umerov, the Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council and head of Kyiv’s delegation for direct talks with Russia, arrived in Istanbul on Tuesday.

In a post on Telegram, Umerov stated that his trip aimed to revive the exchange of prisoners of war.

“These days, I will be working in Türkiye and the Middle East to unblock the exchange process. There was an agreement, and we need to implement it,” he said.

Earlier this year, Russia and Ukraine held three separate peace negotiation rounds in Istanbul, reaching accords on exchanging both prisoners and civilians.

The two parties also exchanged memorandums describing their respective goals for ending the conflict that began in February 2022.

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