Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul began with a round of heads of delegations
Another round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia began on March 29 in Istanbul. Negotiations take place in Istanbul’s Dolmabahçe Palace and are closed for the press.
Delegations are holding a face-to-face meeting for the first time in weeks. Prior to that, the negotiations took place in the format of online consultations.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine and one of the representatives of the Ukrainian delegation, said that the negotiations began with a round of heads of delegations David Arahamiya (from Ukraine) and Volodymyr Medinskyy (from Russia).
Раунд глав делегацій. Давид Арахамія та Володимир Мединський. Про фундаментальні положення переговорного процесу. Делегації паралельно працюють по всьому спектру спірних питань. pic.twitter.com/QqUUp1PYpe
— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) March 29, 2022
They will discuss the fundamental provisions of the negotiation process. In the meantime, delegations are working in parallel on a range of issues.
The Ukrainian delegation includes 11 representatives:
- David Arahamiya – Chairman of the “Servant of the People” faction, People’s Deputy;
- Oleksiy Reznikov – Minister of Defense of Ukraine;
- Mykhailo Podolyak – Adviser to the Head of the President’s Office;
- Mykola Tochytskyy – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs;
- Kyrylo Tymoshenko – Deputy Head of the President’s Office;
- Vasyl Bodnar – Ambassador of Ukraine in Turkey;
- Oleksandr Kyrylenko – Brigadier General, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine;
- Rustem Umerov and Andriy Kostin – people’s deputies;
- Oleksandr Chaly – diplomat;
- Roman Nedilskyy – the Consul General of Ukraine in Istanbul.
Before the negotiations, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the delegations. He stressed the importance of restoring peace in the region, noting that continuing the war in Ukraine would not benefit anyone.
