Russia says it is ready to negotiate peace in Istanbul

Russia has announced that it is ready to resume peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, where the two sides last met in July. No face-to-face talks have taken place since then.

Russian diplomat Alexei Polishchuk said Turkish officials have repeatedly called for their resumption and that the initiative is now on Ukraine's side. Kiev, however, rejects these claims and says it is not the reason for the failure of the peace process.

The last meeting lasted only 40 minutes and the Ukrainian side has proposed that Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin meet in August. The Kremlin did agree, but only if the meeting took place in Moscow - which Ukraine immediately refused.

(reuters, swag)