Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
ISTANBUL, June 2 (Xinhua) — The latest round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, held in Istanbul on Monday with the mediation of Turkey, ended with certain positive changes, especially in the humanitarian sphere.
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli confirmed that the talks, which took place behind closed doors, “did not end negatively.”
Following the meeting, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who headed the Ukrainian delegation, stated at a press conference that during the negotiations the parties had achieved concrete humanitarian results.
R. Umerov said that Ukraine presented its agenda to Russia, proposing a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, as well as the release of prisoners and the return of young servicemen and children.
Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who headed the Russian delegation, for his part announced that Russia would return 6,000 bodies of its fallen servicemen to Ukraine.
According to V. Medinsky, Russia and Ukraine agreed to exchange all seriously wounded and servicemen aged 18-25. In addition, Russia proposed declaring a ceasefire with Ukraine for two to three days in certain sections of the front, he added.
The previous round of direct talks between the two countries took place in Istanbul on May 16, the first time the two sides met in person since March 2022. During that round, an agreement was reached on a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange, the largest exchange since the conflict began. –0–