Istanbul: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that Russia and Ukraine have progressed in their negotiations during the latest meeting in Istanbul.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Fidan shared that the tripartite Turkish-Russian-Ukrainian meeting aimed at ending the war, ongoing since 2022, witnessed a constructive atmosphere where both sides took another step forward on previously agreed issues.

Fidan revealed that an agreement was reached on new categories and larger numbers of prisoner exchanges under the banner of humanitarian exchanges. Memoranda reflecting views on the ceasefire and peace were also exchanged, and both sides find it fitting to begin technical work on these texts in the near future. They have agreed to continue laying the groundwork for a potential leaders’ level meeting.

Fidan emphasized the results-oriented approach of both Russian and Ukrainian sides, formulated in line with the leaders’ shared will to halt war losses, as a positive development. The meeting, which took place earlier in Istanbul, included significant figures from both nations. The Russian delegation was led by Presidential Advisor Vladimir Medinsky and included Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, and Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate Igor Kostyukov. The Ukrainian delegation was represented by Defense Minister Rustam Umarov, Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsya, Deputy Director of the Security Service Oleksandr Poklad, and Deputy Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Oleh Lukhovsky.