Kiev's Umerov urges leader summit after Istanbul talks
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov called for a high-level summit by the end of June following direct talks with Russian officials in Istanbul.
Speaking after the meeting, Umerov confirmed that Russia handed over a peace memorandum and emphasized that "all key issues at talks can only be resolved at the leader-level."
The Ukrainian delegation expressed cautious optimism, highlighting potential humanitarian progress if both sides follow through on agreed-upon measures. At the same press conference, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya noted the importance of sustained diplomacy, stating, "We managed to construct our conversation in a way we can have tangible humanitarian outcomes."