Ukraine and Russia conclude talks in Istanbul

The negotiations between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations, which took place on Monday 2 June in Istanbul, have concluded.

As reported by Kremlin-aligned Russian news agencies RIA Novosti and TASS, the talks between the Ukrainian and Russian representatives lasted for just over an hour. They were preceded by an opening statement from Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who was present in the negotiation room.

The conclusion of the talks was indirectly confirmed by Andrii Yermak,  Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, who wrote on Telegram that the Ukrainian side had "officially handed over to the Russian side a list of Ukrainian children who must be returned [by Russia – ed.]".

"We are talking about hundreds of children who were illegally deported, forcibly relocated, or are being held in temporarily occupied territories by Russia," Yermak wrote.

Ahead of negotiations with the Russian delegation in Istanbul, First Deputy Foreign Minister Serhii Kyslytsia and Ukrainian delegation member Oleksandr Bevz met with representatives of Ukraine’s European partners – Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.

Earlier reports outlined the proposals with which the Ukrainian delegation travelled to Istanbul.