By Alperen Aktas
ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukraine’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya and delegation member Oleksandr Bevz met with representatives of Germany, Italy, and the UK in Istanbul to align positions before direct talks with Russia, a Ukrainian official said Monday.
According to Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi, the meeting aimed to coordinate views on the agenda items of the Ukraine-Russia negotiations.
Ukrainian delegates emphasized their commitment to peace and stressed the need for a full ceasefire, a potential summit at the leadership level, and humanitarian confidence-building measures.
“The sides coordinated positions ahead of today’s meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations,” Tykhyi said on social media.
The Ukrainian delegation’s call for a “leaders’ meeting” and ceasefire comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts, with Türkiye hosting the latest round of talks as a mediator.
Ukraine’s delegation arrived in Istanbul on Monday for a second round of direct negotiations with Russia.
According to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources, Monday's negotiations are scheduled to begin at 1 pm local time (1000GMT) and will take place at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul.