Istanbul, 23 July 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Russian and Ukrainian negotiators are set to meet in Istanbul on Wednesday for a third round of talks since May, though little progress on ending their three-year-old war is expected as positions remain far apart.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dampened expectations, saying detailed ceasefire talks are not on the agenda.

Wednesday's meeting should instead focus on advancing the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war and children abducted by Russia, as well as preparing a meeting at the presidential level, Zelensky told Kiev diplomats on Monday.

"We need more momentum in the negotiations to end the war," Zelensky said, explaining his insistence on a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Moscow, meanwhile, insists that position papers on possible paths to peace, previously exchanged by the warring parties, are to be discussed at the meeting.

However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has also cautioned against optimism, saying that "major diplomatic work" would be required to reach rapprochement regarding a ceasefire.

While Kiev insists on an unconditional ceasefire to allow for negotiations to end the conflict, Russia has been sticking to its maximum demands, including the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the eastern regions Moscow illegally annexed.

Ukraine and Russia began holding direct talks for the first time in over three years in May. So far, the negotiations have resulted in a large-scale exchange of prisoners of war, with soldiers under the age of 25 and severely wounded combatants released most recently.

The Russian delegation is again to be led by presidential adviser and former culture minister Vladimir Medinsky, according to the Kremlin.

The Ukrainian team is set to be led by former defence minister Rustem Umerov, who has since been appointed head of the National Security and Defence Council.

Photo: EPA