Representatives of Russia and Ukraine met for direct negotiations in Istanbul for the first time in three years, in talks brokered by Turkey that both sides described as exploratory.
The delegations discussed humanitarian corridors, prisoner exchanges and a possible framework for a broader ceasefire, according to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources.
No agreement was reached but both sides agreed to reconvene within three weeks, suggesting a degree of goodwill that had been absent from the conflict.
NATO allies expressed support for the Turkish mediation effort while emphasising that any peace settlement must respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity under international law.
