Russia and Ukraine on Monday concluded a second round of direct talks at Istanbul's Ciragan Palace that lasted just over an hour, from 14:43 to 15:57. The talks were a follow-up to the first meeting on May 16, which lasted about two hours.
During the meeting, the two sides exchanged memoranda to share their approaches to resolving the conflict. Ukrainian Minister of Defence Rustem Umerovwho is leading the Kiev delegation, informed that Ukraine will have one week to study the Russian memorandum on the settlement of the conflict.
"We need to thoroughly study the Russian document and assess its contents," said a spokesman for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Georgy Tikhy during the press conference after the meeting. "Rest assured that as soon as we do, we will communicate our response," He added.
The Russian side, represented by the presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky, offered Ukraine a ceasefire for two to three days in certain parts of the front line. "We have proposed a specific ceasefire for 2-3 days in some sections of the front," Medinský told reporters. The move is aimed at allowing commanders to retrieve the bodies of fallen soldiers.
Medinsky also said that Russian negotiators are ready "to begin immediately a meaningful and substantive discussion on each of the items in the package of agreements on a future ceasefire".
At the same time, Ukraine has proposed to hold another round of talks with Russia later this month, namely between 20 and 30 June. "We have proposed a meeting before the end of the month, between 20 and 30 June," Umerov said at a press conference broadcast by the Rada TV channel.
Both Russia and Ukraine are continuing their efforts to find a way towards a ceasefire and settlement of the long-standing dispute. During the first round, the two sides agreed on an exchange of 1 000 prisoners, which subsequently took place.
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