MOSCOW, September 3. /TASS/. Russia expects the negotiations with Ukraine to continue, and the heads of the delegations maintain a direct contact, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Indonesia’s Kompas newspaper.
Asked about Moscow’s measures taken to resolve the conflict around Ukraine, Lavrov said that this spring, direct Russian-Ukrainian talks resumed on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s initiative.
"Three rounds took place in Istanbul, and certain progress was made on humanitarian issues, such as exchanging prisoners of war and detained persons, returning dead bodies, etc. Furthermore, each side presented its perspective on the prerequisites for ending the conflict. The heads of the delegations remain in direct contact. We expect the negotiations to continue," Lavrov said.
He emphasized that resolving the Ukrainian crisis by peaceful means remains Russia’s priority.
"As a reminder, after the start of the special military operation to save people in Donbass, Kiev requested negotiations, and we agreed right away. They took place in February-April 2022, first in Belarus and then Turkey. Agreements on a peaceful end to the conflict were initialed, but then the Kiev regime, following the advice of its Western handlers, walked away from a peace treaty choosing instead to continue the war," Lavrov said.
The first round of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine was held in Istanbul on May 16, where the sides agreed on exchanging prisoners on the "1,000 for 1,000" formula and submitting memorandums on the aspects of overcoming the crisis.
The second round of resumed direct negotiations was also held in Istanbul on June 2. Following it, the sides exchanged peace terms as well as agreed on exchanging severely injured prisoners of war and the bodies of deceased servicemen. Moscow also handed over to Kiev several thousand bodies of fallen soldiers.
A third round of direct Russia-Ukraine talks on the Ukrainian settlement took place in Istanbul on July 23. Before a collective meeting, delegation heads Russian Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky and Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, held a one-on-one conversation. The collective meeting lasted about 40 minutes during which the sides discussed the positions outlined in draft memorandums.