The Presidency of Turkey has confirmed that Ukraine and Russia will hold a third round of peace negotiations in Istanbul tomorrow, Wednesday, at the Ottoman palace of Çiragan in Besiktas, where the last round of talks took place on June 3. Former Defense Minister Roustem Oumerov will lead the Ukrainian delegation.
There are no indications of progress from the May and June meetings, where agreements were reached on the exchange of prisoners and fallen soldiers' bodies in the over three years of war.
This new session will focus on continuing these exchanges and preparing for a possible meeting between both leaders, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, according to Kiev.
The Kremlin has not yet confirmed Wednesday's meeting. Its spokesperson, Dmitri Peskov, stated that Russian and Ukrainian peace proposals are currently "diametrically opposed," and there is "much work" to be done to progress.
President of the United States, Donald Trump, has given Russia 50 days to reach a peace agreement (8 days have passed) or face sanctions. The EU approved last week the 18th package affecting the price of Russian oil and its transporting fleet.
Russia wants Ukraine to cede four occupied regions, including Crimea annexed in 2014, and renounce joining NATO. This is unacceptable for Kiev, which seeks the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory and Western security guarantees.
The confirmation of this third meeting comes after a new night of Russian attacks in Ukraine that killed a child and injured 24 people before holding direct peace talks in the Turkish city.
Russia continues to massively bombard the Ukrainian rear and make territorial advances on the front line. Ukrainska Pravda reports that the Russians have entered Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.
Russia Expands Blacklist of Western Citizens in Response to EU Sanctions
Russia announced that it has expanded the blacklist of Western citizens who are not allowed to enter Russian territory in response to the 18th package of sanctions approved last week by the European Union (EU).
"These include employees of security agencies, state and commercial organizations, citizens of EU member states and other Western countries responsible for providing military assistance to Kiev," the Foreign Ministry statement said.
Also included in the list are Western citizens involved in organizing the supply of dual-use equipment to Ukraine, creating an international tribunal to judge Russian leaders for war crimes, adopting sanctions, and advocating for the confiscation of Russian assets.
Moscow emphasizes that the measure responds to "unfriendly actions" - labeling European sanctions as unilateral and illegitimate - and the "anti-Russian policy" of Western countries, accusing them of organizing a blockade of Russian ships in the Baltic Sea.
"Hostile anti-Russian actions cannot in any way influence our country's policy... The upcoming EU sanctions will also receive a timely and appropriate response," it said.
Russian Police Raid Baza, One of the Most Popular Telegram Channels
Russian police raided the offices of the Telegram channel Baza and the home of its director, Gleb Trifonov, on Tuesday for a case related to leaks by the police.
"The police conducted searches at the Baza editorial office, and riot police also went to the director's apartment, Gleb Trifonov, with whom contact has not been reestablished," the Telegram channel itself reported.
The outlet added that it currently does not know the whereabouts of Trifonov, as neither his colleagues, family, nor lawyers have been able to reach him.
Shortly after, the Investigative Committee opened a case of abuse of power by police officers who leaked confidential information to the media.
The raids took place in offices in the Moscow, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, and Belgorod regions.
Baza, considered one of the most popular Telegram channels in Russia and linked by some independent platforms to state structures, publishes information received from users who are monetarily rewarded.
Former Defense Minister Roustem Oumerov will lead the Ukrainian delegation in the new talks with Russia scheduled for tomorrow in Turkey, in an attempt to end over three years of war, announced President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday.
"The delegation will be led by Roustem Oumerov, who has just been appointed Secretary of the National Security Council of Ukraine, and will include representatives from intelligence services, Ukrainian diplomacy, and the presidency," Zelensky said on social media.
Russia Attacks Ukrainian Regions of Sumy in the Northeast; Odesa in the South and Kramatorsk in the East
The war continues unabated. Russia is heavily pressing to advance in points in the east and northeast along the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line. It is also launching over 700 drones per night on Ukrainian cities, as reported by Ap.
Since Monday night, Russia attacked the Ukrainian regions of Sumy in the northeast, Odesa in the south, and Kramatorsk in the east.
In Kramatorsk, a glide bomb hit an apartment building, causing a fire, according to the city's military administration chief, Oleksandr Honcharenko. A child born in 2015 died, local officials said, without giving the exact age. Five other people were injured.
The Sumy region was targeted by multiple waves of attacks, reported the regional military administration. A drone hit a gas station in the city of Putyvl, injuring four people, including a five-year-old child. A second drone attack hit the same location less than two hours later, injuring seven more.
Later in the evening, two powerful Russian glide bombs were dropped on the city of Sumy, injuring 13 people, including a six-year-old child. According to regional authorities, five apartment buildings, two private houses, and a shopping center were damaged in the attack. Acting Mayor Artem Kobzar said the explosions shattered windows and destroyed balconies in residential buildings.
Also on Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said its anti-aircraft defenses shot down 35 Ukrainian long-range drones over several regions overnight, including three over the Moscow region.
Russian Attacks in Ukraine Kill a Child and Injure 24 Before Direct Peace Talks
Russian forces attacked three Ukrainian cities in overnight attacks that killed a child and injured at least 24 people, officials said on Tuesday, a day before a third round of direct peace talks scheduled between Moscow and Kiev, as reported by Ap.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's announcement on Monday night of the negotiations taking place raised little hope of making any progress in ending the three-year war. This is despite efforts by the Trump administration to push for peace efforts, which have stalled due to Russian President Vladimir Putin's reluctance to compromise on his demands.
The two previous rounds were held in Istanbul, and Russian media reports suggest that the Turkish city will likely host the meeting this time as well. The talks in May and June led to a series of prisoner exchanges and the return of fallen soldiers' bodies but did not produce other agreements.
Russia and Ukraine to Attend Third Round of Negotiations in Istanbul Tomorrow
The Turkish Presidency has confirmed that Ukraine and Russia will hold a third round of peace negotiations in Istanbul tomorrow, Wednesday, reports Efe.
The meeting between the delegations of both countries will take place at the Ottoman palace of Çiragan in Besiktas, where the last round of talks was held on June 3.
The Presidency indeed confirmed the meeting - the third since Moscow and Kiev resumed direct contacts in Istanbul in May - by sending a brief statement to accredited press specifying the location and time of the meeting.
Kiev confirmed yesterday that the meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, while Moscow also implicitly confirmed its willingness to attend by indicating that "Istanbul is an acceptable place" for the meeting.
In the two previous meetings in the Turkish city, Russia and Ukraine agreed to exchange prisoners of war and fallen soldiers' bodies but did not advance in negotiations to end the war.
Ukraine demands an immediate and unconditional 30-day ceasefire, which Russia rejects.
"It is necessary to intensify the dynamics of the negotiations. We must do everything possible to achieve a ceasefire. And the Russian side must stop evading decisions," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last Saturday.