A new round of talks between Ukraine and the Russian Federation is expected to take place in Istanbul on Wednesday and Thursday, 23–24 July, according to diplomatic sources cited by Independent Türkçe. The upcoming meeting would mark the third such contact between delegations from the two countries in the Turkish city this year.
While official details regarding the time, venue and composition of the delegations remain undisclosed, sources indicate that the talks are currently in the final stages of logistical and security planning. The consultations are expected to be held behind closed doors, with both sides likely to issue written statements following the conclusion of discussions.
The focus of the Istanbul meeting is expected to remain technical in nature, with negotiators addressing a limited number of practical issues. These include humanitarian access, prisoner exchanges, the safety of critical infrastructure, and stabilisation measures in border regions. No political negotiations or discussions on territorial matters have been announced.
Background and Context
The talks are set to take place amidst renewed efforts on both sides to re-energise diplomatic channels after months of stagnation. On Friday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Rustem Umerov, former Minister of Defence, as Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council (NSDC). In a statement following the appointment, Zelenskyy stressed the need to “accelerate the negotiation track” with Russia, and indicated that the implementation of understandings reached during the previous Istanbul session on 2 June was ongoing.
Zelenskyy further announced that Ukraine had formally proposed holding the next round of talks this week and reiterated Kyiv’s readiness to engage in direct dialogue “at the level of leaders” should Moscow agree.
On the Russian side, presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the Kremlin also supports increasing the tempo of the negotiations. Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on 18 July to discuss the possibility of resuming the process in Istanbul, reinforcing Turkey’s role as facilitator.
The anticipated 23–24 July session follows previous rounds of talks held on 16 May and 2 June in Istanbul, which were also conducted at the working level under Turkish mediation. While those meetings did not produce formal agreements, they were viewed by both parties as essential for maintaining limited lines of communication under wartime conditions.
Technical Scope, Security Measures
Current preparations include the designation of a secure venue, development of safety protocols, and coordination of support arrangements for the visiting delegations. As with prior rounds, the session will not be open to media coverage. Press communications will be restricted to official communiqués issued afterwards.
Turkish officials have maintained strict confidentiality around the talks, in line with Ankara’s established practice of providing a neutral setting for confidential negotiations. Istanbul has previously hosted talks related to the Syrian conflict, Iran’s nuclear programme, and earlier Russia–Ukraine negotiations, consolidating its position as a preferred platform for sensitive diplomatic contacts.
Though no breakthrough is anticipated, observers note that the continuation of talks—however limited in scope—may contribute to incremental progress on humanitarian and operational issues. The fact that both Kyiv and Moscow have publicly signalled a willingness to engage is regarded as a modest but relevant development against the backdrop of ongoing hostilities.
Originally published on euglobal.news.
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