On Monday at 1 p.m., in the opulent Ciragan Palace overlooking the Bosporus, envoys from Russia and Ukraine will sit down for the second formal round of peace talks. The meeting comes amid a sharp escalation on the ground, with Ukraine reporting a large strike on Russian strategic bombers just hours before the session.
Ukraine's Roadmap to Peace
Ukraine has laid out a clear sequence of steps: a minimum 30-day ceasefire to halt hostilities, a full exchange of prisoners, and the return of children relocated to Russian-held areas. The proposal culminates in a summit between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Vladimir Putin, who could bring direct dialogue to the core issues fueling the conflict.
To lead its delegation, Kyiv expanded its team to 14 members, adding military experts, human rights advisers, and legal specialists. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov returns as head negotiator, highlighting Kyiv's blend of strategic and humanitarian priorities.
Russia's Agenda and Diplomatic Moves
Russia's delegation, unchanged from the first round and led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, arrives in Istanbul with a draft memorandum and fresh proposals aimed at securing a ceasefire. While details remain under wraps, Moscow has signaled that ensuring navigation safety in the Black Sea could feature in the talks.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov underscored Russia's openness to high-level engagement, including a potential trilateral summit if the Istanbul talks yield concrete progress. This leaves the door open to further diplomatic developments beyond the palace walls.
What Comes Next
As these high-stakes discussions unfold, young global citizens, business innovators, and digital nomads alike will watch closely. Will this second round pave the way for lasting calm, or will rising tensions overshadow tentative steps toward peace? For a world connected by technology and swayed by real-time updates, the answers will shape the next chapter in Eastern Europe and beyond.
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Russia, Ukraine set for second round of talks amid escalating conflict
cgtn.com
