Russia and Ukraine to Face Off Again in Istanbul: Will There Be Peace?

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has proposed holding the next round of peace talks with Ukraine. According to his statement, the second round of talks will take place next Monday, June 2, in Istanbul. This was reported on the official website of the Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, May 28.

Lavrov's statement noted that the Russian side is ready to present a memorandum to Kiev at this meeting containing the terms of peace. This document will clearly outline all the solutions to the problems that caused the current crisis and will contain proposals for improving future relations between the parties.

"The head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, is ready to present this memorandum to Ukrainian representatives and provide the necessary explanations during the second round of talks in Istanbul," Sergei Lavrov's statement said. At the same time, the Russian Foreign Minister expressed sincere gratitude to Turkey for providing a convenient and productive platform for negotiations.

Recall that on May 16, the first direct meeting between Russia and Ukraine in the past three years took place in Istanbul. The Russian delegation was headed by Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky, while the Ukrainian delegation was led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. The meeting lasted more than two hours, and the parties managed to reach a number of important agreements.

In particular, during the talks, the two countries agreed to exchange prisoners of war on the basis of the “1,000 for 1,000” formula. Preliminary plans for a cessation of hostilities were also discussed, and an agreement in principle was reached to hold new meetings.

As a result of these agreements, a large-scale prisoner exchange took place between the two countries on May 23-25. On the first day, the sides exchanged 270 military personnel and 120 civilians. On the second day, 307 personnel were transferred, and on the third day, 303 military personnel were transferred. This exchange was the most extensive and largest since the start of hostilities in 2022.

Experts say the next meeting on June 2 could be an important step towards establishing peace in the region. So, will these talks lead to peace or end in another diplomatic standoff? The entire world community is eagerly awaiting the answer to this question.