Russian and Ukrainian delegations opened a third round of face-to-face negotiations in Istanbul on 23 July, their first meeting in seven weeks. The Russian team was headed by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, while Kyiv sent National Security and Defence Council Secretary Rustem Umerov. Turkish officials, including the foreign minister, intelligence chief and military leadership, attended in a facilitative role, according to local media. Expectations were low going in. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned the talks would be "very hard" and said the sides remained “diametrically opposed” on key issues. Kyiv entered the meeting calling for an immediate, nationwide ceasefire and presented a proposal for a leaders’ summit between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky by the end of August. The session at Istanbul’s Çırağan Palace lasted less than an hour, participants on both sides said. While no progress was reported on a broader ceasefire or territorial questions, the delegations agreed to organise further exchanges of prisoners—including both military personnel and civilians—and to hold follow-up discussions to finalise the logistics. Moscow suggested a series of short-term local truces rather than the full halt in hostilities sought by Ukraine. The talks took place amid intensified fighting on the ground and mounting external pressure; U.S. President Donald Trump last week threatened tougher secondary sanctions on Russia and its trade partners if no ceasefire is reached within 50 days. Ankara said it stands ready to host additional rounds, but no date has been set.