Istanbul, 2 June 2025 (dpa/MIA) – Representatives from Ukraine and Russia are set to meet again on Monday in Istanbul for talks on possible ways to end the war.

The start is scheduled for 12 noon (1000 GMT) at the city's Çırağan Palace, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said ahead of the talks.

Moscow had proposed this round of talks. In mid-May, the warring parties met for direct talks for the first time since 2022. The result of that meeting was a prisoner exchange.

The Ukrainian position for this round of talks includes, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a complete unconditional ceasefire, the release of prisoners and the return of abducted children.

To create lasting peace, a meeting at the highest level must also be prepared, Zelensky said.

Moscow had rejected an unconditional ceasefire but recently signalled willingness under a number of preconditions.

"For the duration of the ceasefire, it is at least necessary for Western countries to stop supplying weapons to the Kiev regime and for Ukraine to end its mobilisation," Russia's UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said on Friday.

Photo: MIA archive