Ukraine will send a delegation to Istanbul for a new round of direct talks with Russia tomorrow, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today, quoted by the Associated Press, BTA reports.
The Ukrainian delegation will be led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Zelensky added in a post on the "Telegram" app.
"We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state and our people," the Ukrainian president said.
Zelensky said he had outlined to the defense and foreign ministers, the General Staff and intelligence services "short-term tasks and also determined Ukraine's positions before the meeting in Istanbul on Monday".
The priorities listed by the president include "a full and unconditional ceasefire", "the release of prisoners of war" and "return of abducted children".
Ukrainian authorities had earlier called on the Kremlin to provide a promised memorandum setting out Moscow's position on ending the war, which has been going on for over three years, before the meeting. Russia has said it will present the memorandum during the talks.
This is the first confirmation that Kiev will take part in the talks, which will be held in Istanbul at the suggestion of Russia, after previously denouncing the ceasefire conditions set out by Moscow as "arrogant".
The two sides last met in the Turkish metropolis in mid-May for their first direct talks since 2022.
A major prisoner exchange followed the meeting, DPA recalls.
Meanwhile, RIA reported that the Russian delegation left for Istanbul today.