MOSCOW, June 2: Over 200 journalists from across the globe were granted access to Ciragan Palace in Istanbul for the Russia-Ukraine negotiations after rigorous security checks, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Monday.
Russia-Ukraine talks might start at 10:00 GMT, a Turkish diplomatic source told Sputnik on Sunday. Turkish authorities have ensured robust security measures, including canine search for explosives, to prepare the venue for the delegations’ meeting.
The Russian delegation, which arrived in Istanbul on Sunday, is led by Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky and also includes Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Head of the Russian General Staff Main Directorate Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov previously stated that the Russian delegation was ready to present the Ukrainian side with a memorandum on the settlement during the second round of talks in Istanbul on June 2. Russia proposes exchanging memoranda on the approaches of both sides to the negotiation process at the upcoming possible talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, Russia’s Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzya said on Friday.
In mid-May, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed that Ukraine resume direct talks without preconditions in Istanbul on May 15. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the goal of the proposed talks with Ukraine is to eliminate the root causes of the conflict and ensure Russia’s interests. The Russian delegation arrived in Istanbul on May 15 and the meeting took place the next day and lasted almost two hours. Medinsky said that Moscow and Kiev had agreed to present their vision of a possible future ceasefire. He also stated Russia’s readiness to continue talks with Ukraine.
(UNI)
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