A Russian delegation is heading to Istanbul in preparation for negotiations with Ukraine on Monday.

A Russian delegation headed to Istanbul on Sunday for negotiations with Ukraine scheduled for Monday, as reported by official Russian news agencies citing unspecified sources. A source told TASS agency that "the negotiating team has left for Istanbul." Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Sunday that a Ukrainian delegation led by Defense Minister Rustam Amrov would head to Istanbul on Monday for a new round of talks with Russia. Zelensky stated on social media, "We have also outlined our positions ahead of the Monday meeting in Istanbul," indicating that Amrov would lead the delegation as in the first round of talks held last May. The Ukrainian President emphasized that his country's priorities in this round include a "complete and unconditional ceasefire," as well as "the return of prisoners" and Ukrainian children accused by Kyiv of being abducted and forcibly transferred by Moscow. The first round of talks took place in Istanbul on May 16, aiming to end the war that erupted following the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 22, 2022, but only resulted in a preliminary agreement on a prisoner exchange.