Peace talks with Kiev are planned for tonight in Istanbul, the Kremlin confirmed, adding that a "very complicated" discussion with Ukrainian negotiators is expected.
The Kremlin rules out the possibility of rapid diplomatic progress.
"The discussion will mainly focus on issues related to the draft memorandums, which the two sides exchanged in June, which included their demands," said Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
He reiterated that the drafts are diametrically opposed.
Peskov said that the Russian delegation is unchanged and that, as at previous meetings in May and June in Istanbul, it will be led by former Minister of Culture and close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Vladimir Medinsky.
The result of the first round of negotiations was an agreement on the exchange of prisoners of war, and at the second meeting an agreement was reached on the exchange of wounded and seriously wounded, as well as soldiers under the age of 25. The exchange of bodies of killed soldiers was also agreed upon.
Ukrainian media reported that the Kiev delegation in Turkey today will be led by the former Minister of Defense, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umerov.
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