Medinsky: Russia has taken note of Ukraine's request for a meeting of heads of state

During the talks with Russia in Istanbul, the Ukrainian delegation made a proposal to hold direct talks between Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This was announced on May 16 by Vladimir Medinsky, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, following the meeting.

"The Ukrainian side has requested direct talks between the heads of state. We have taken this request into consideration," Medinsky said.

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On the same day, Medinsky said that direct negotiations between Russian representatives and the Ukrainian side had ended, and the Russian Federation was ready to continue contacts. In addition, each country will prepare its own vision of the ceasefire and detail it, he added. In addition, the delegations agreed on the exchange of prisoners of war in the "1000 to 1000" format.

Prior to that, negotiations between the American, Turkish and Ukrainian sides on the conflict in Ukraine took place in Istanbul. Their conversation lasted about an hour.