After another round of negotiations between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul, the parties made separate statements.
Ukrainian representative Rustem Umyerov emphasized that Kyiv remains committed to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and any conditions involving concessions to the occupier are unacceptable.
The Russian representative Vladimir Medinskiy, in turn, voiced Moscow’s position, which, according to him, "has handed an updated memorandum to Ukraine." Medinskiy also made an inappropriate statement by dismissively calling Ukraine’s demands for the return of children a "show for European grandmothers."
Both sides confirmed that negotiations would continue, although the positions remain fundamentally opposed.