Ukraine–Russia negotiations in Istanbul: what to expect from the new round?

In the war between Russia and Ukraine, another decisive period has come, and the parties are again on the verge of returning to the negotiation table. At the initiative of Ukraine’s Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, former Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov, it was proposed to hold the third round of negotiations in Istanbul next week, July 21–27. This was especially emphasized by President Volodymyr Zelensky in his address on July 19.

According to Zelensky, it is necessary to add speed and dynamics to the negotiation process: “All possibilities should be used to achieve a ceasefire. Russia must stop avoiding solutions.” In his view, the main issues of the new round will be — the exchange of prisoners of war, the return of children, and the cessation of active killings. Zelensky supports holding these negotiations at the leaders’ level, stating, “this is necessary for truly long-term peace.”

He also said he is ready for a bilateral meeting with Vladimir Putin and, if necessary, for a trilateral meeting with the participation of Donald Trump. This shows that Kyiv is open to international negotiations.

According to the TASS agency, Russian negotiators have also confirmed that Ukraine proposed a new round. However, the date has not yet been agreed, and the Kremlin as well as the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs have not yet given an official comment on Zelensky’s initiative. Only the press secretary of the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, said on July 18 that Russia is “in favor of adding dynamics to the negotiation process.”

Previously, Istanbul was also the main venue for negotiations. In the two rounds held on May 16 and June 2, the parties could not reach an agreement on a full ceasefire, but they did agree on the exchange of prisoners of war and the bodies of soldiers.

According to the German publication Der Spiegel, there are also assumptions that the current Ukrainian initiative is backed by lengthy consultations with the United States. Recently, US President’s special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg visited Kyiv, and Donald Trump issued new threats to Russia.

It is clear that the third round to be held in Istanbul may not only provide an opportunity to soften the contradictions between the parties, but also open a new page in the global political environment. The world community is waiting for really important results from this meeting — will this round be a real step towards peace, or will it once again remain only a dream? There are many questions, but expectations are just as high. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!