Russia, Ukraine set for round 2 of peace talks in Turkey

ISTANBUL, June  02 (YPA) – A new round of direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine is set to begin later today, Monday, in Istanbul.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, told Sputnik news agency prior to the talks, confirmed that Moscow’s delegation comes prepared with a formal memorandum outlining potential settlement terms.

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that Moscow considers it a mistake to disclose its negotiating positions through the media.

At the same time, some details of Kiev’s draft memorandum appeared in the press and were published by The New York Times.

The draft reportedly includes a ceasefire on land, sea, and air, to be monitored by “international partners.”

The Russian delegation arrived in Istanbul with the same lineup as in the first round, led by Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky.

The Ukrainian delegation, however, was expanded from 12 to 14 members, although the head of the delegation remains the same—Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

The Russian delegation participating in the Ukraine settlement negotiations arrived aboard a flight that landed at Atatürk Airport at 20:23 Moscow time.

@E.Y.M