Minsk: Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his country’s readiness to hold a third round of negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul. Putin made this announcement during a press conference at the conclusion of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting in the Belarusian capital. The intended negotiations aim to build on the progress made during previous discussions held in Istanbul on June 2.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the earlier negotiations resulted in agreements to return the frozen bodies of 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers and facilitate the exchange of seriously ill soldiers and prisoners under the age of 25. Putin emphasized the humanitarian importance of these exchanges, noting that a prisoner exchange with Ukraine had occurred just yesterday.

Putin expressed gratitude towards Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his support of the peace process and confirmed Russia’s willingness to conduct the upcoming negotiations in Istanbul. He mentioned that the heads of the Russian and Ukrainian delegations are in constant contact to determine the date for the meeting, which he sees as a positive development.

The Russian President also revealed that Moscow and Kyiv have exchanged draft memoranda of understanding regarding a potential peace agreement. Although these memoranda currently contain contradictions, ongoing negotiations aim to find common ground and reach a rapprochement. These draft memoranda will be a focal point in the upcoming third round of negotiations.

The second round of negotiations, held earlier this month in Istanbul under Turkish auspices, successfully facilitated agreements on the return of the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers and the exchange of prisoners and wounded soldiers. The upcoming discussions seek to further these efforts towards peace between the two nations.