Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine resumed in Istanbul following an hour and a half delay, with the Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan delivering an opening speech. The talks, like the previous round, are being held behind closed doors.

The primary focus of this round is to address the potential for a ceasefire and to explore the possibility of a meeting between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine. Fidan also expressed optimism for further agreements on prisoner exchanges and for rapid advancements in the negotiation process.

According to Fidan, the initial round of discussions yielded “very important steps.” The prior meeting in May resulted in a prisoner exchange of 1,000 individuals from each side.

Leading up to the Istanbul talks, Russia had reportedly finalized a memorandum concerning Ukraine. The document outlines potential settlement terms and conditions for a temporary ceasefire, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The negotiations are taking place against a backdrop of recent terrorist attacks within Russia, including incidents targeting railways in the Bryansk and Kursk regions, which resulted in injuries and fatalities. Additionally, drone attacks were carried out on airfields in multiple regions, some reportedly launched from a truck, and the Ministry of Defense has classified these as terrorist acts.