Istanbul: The second round of direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine is set to begin this afternoon in Istanbul, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan participating in the discussions.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, during this round, the two sides will exchange documents outlining their respective visions for the terms and principles of a peaceful settlement of the ongoing conflict between the two countries. The Ukrainian delegation will be led by Defense Minister Rustam Umarov, while the Russian delegation will be headed by Vladimir Medinsky, an advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Turkish media reported that Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin plans to attend the negotiations, further emphasizing Turkey’s role in facilitating dialogue between the two nations.