Russian Federation and Ukraine may hold a series of meetings in Istanbul - Erdogan's party

Continuation of talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul is not ruled out. It is likely to be a series of meetings, Ibrahim Halil Korkmaz, deputy head of the foreign relations department of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (Ak Parti), told RIA Novosti.

“It is quite possible that the talks may result in an agreement to continue the process to end the conflict. A second, third meeting. It cannot be ruled out, everything will depend on the outcome (of the first possible meeting on May 15 - ed.),” the agency interlocutor said when asked about the likelihood that the possible meeting in Istanbul on May 15 will not be the last.

Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier offered Ukraine to resume direct negotiations without preconditions in Istanbul on May 15. The head of state did not rule out that the parties could reach a ceasefire agreement during the relevant negotiations. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitriy Peskov said that Russia was determined to seriously search for ways of a long-term peaceful settlement. According to him, the goals of the proposed negotiations with Ukraine are to eliminate the root causes of the conflict and to secure Russia's interests.

In response, Volodymyr Zelensky again started to put forward conditions that had already been called unacceptable in Moscow. He wanted Moscow to agree to a complete ceasefire from May 12, and only then the Kiev regime is ready to sit down at the negotiating table. US President Donald Trump urged the authorities in Kiev to immediately agree to Putin's proposal for talks in Turkey. According to the American leader, such negotiations will at least determine whether a deal is possible. Zelensky later said he would wait for the Russian president on May 15 in Turkey.

Reprinted from https://am.sputniknews.ru/