Direct talks between representatives of Russia and Ukraine have begun in Istanbul, with the Turkish delegation acting as mediator, Rks News reports.
According to the BBC, there was no handshake between the delegations during the opening of the meeting, highlighting the ongoing tensions between the two countries.
This marks the first face-to-face meeting between Russia and Ukraine since the early stages of the war, and there are high hopes that Istanbul could serve as an opportunity to revive diplomatic efforts for peace.
