Istanbul: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan affirmed that the third round of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine, hosted in Istanbul on Wednesday evening, marked tangible progress toward building a shared will to resolve the crisis, stating that "another building block has been added to the path of peace."

According to National Iraqi News Agency, in a post on his account on the social media platform X on Thursday, Fidan said the trilateral meeting between Turkey, Russia, and Ukraine was held as part of Turkey's ongoing efforts to establish lasting peace in the region. He expressed gratitude to all parties for their trust in Turkey and its President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Turkish minister explained that the talks resulted in an agreement to exchange a new group of prisoners of war, numbering no fewer than 1,200 from both sides. Additional steps were also agreed upon to facilitate the exchange of fallen soldiers' remains and the mutual return of civilians and children to their respective countries.

Fidan added that the delegations also discussed potential steps to intensify technical negotiations on a ceasefire and to bridge gaps in their positions. The parties agreed to establish joint working groups focused on political, humanitarian, and military matters.

He emphasized that the negotiation process requires patience, stressing that "each new achievement brings the parties one step closer to peace." Fidan also noted that international interest and support for the talks hosted by Turkey reflect a global yearning for peace.

He reaffirmed Turkey's commitment to continue working toward a lasting solution, noting that Ankara has been striving for peace since the very beginning of the war.

It is worth noting that Istanbul previously hosted two rounds of negotiations in May and June, which led to agreements on the release of thousands of prisoners from both sides.