The second high-level negotiations between Russia and Ukraine ended after about one hour. It was reported that on this day, the delegations of both countries skipped the handshake and immediately began negotiations.
According to Reuters and TASS on June 2 (local time), the negotiations held at the Çırağan Palace in Istanbul, Turkey, concluded about one hour after they began. The high-level delegations of both countries gathered that day at the Ciragan Hotel in Istanbul, 17 days after the first negotiations on May 16.
The Ukrainian delegation included Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov and Deputy Director of the Security Service Oleksandr Poklad. The Russian delegation included Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to the president at the level of vice minister, and Deputy Minister of Defense Alexander Fomin.
The second negotiations were pushed forward after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov unilaterally announced on May 28 that "we are ready to hold direct negotiations in Istanbul on June 2 and present a memorandum from the Russian side." Ukraine expressed its intention to participate in the second negotiations only the day before, after engaging in a war of nerves demanding the prior disclosure of Russia's memorandum.
On that day, both sides exchanged pre-prepared ceasefire conditions. This is what was promised during the first negotiations. Minister Umerov stated, "We will review the proposal for negotiations conveyed by Russia in our home country."
A Turkish Foreign Ministry official mediating the talks met with reporters immediately after the negotiations concluded and said, "The second direct talks between Russia and Ukraine did not end negatively." However, the specific contents of what each side included in their proposals and how the specific results of the negotiations were agreed upon were not disclosed.
However, it is reported that the Ukrainian side expressed its position to urge the return of Ukrainian children kidnapped after Russia's surprise invasion at the end of February 2022 by handing over a list of those children. The Ukrainian government claims that over 19,500 children have been abducted by Russian forces during the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted after the negotiations that "a new prisoner exchange process has been initiated." Minister Umerov also added, "We agreed to exchange all seriously injured individuals and prisoners under the age of 25." Previously, during the first negotiations on May 16, both sides had agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners each.
Meanwhile, according to sources in the Turkish Foreign Ministry, both sides agreed to hold a third negotiation, although no specific date was set. Umerov, representing Ukraine, suggested at a press conference that "all key issues can only be resolved at the highest level" and proposed to meet again at the end of this month to create advanced results.
The Russian side maintains that a successful outcome must be achieved in high-level negotiations before a summit can take place.
Following the first and second negotiations, Turkey plans to push for a four-party summit, including Russia, Ukraine, the United States, and itself. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated, "My wish is for President Putin and President Zelensky to meet in Istanbul or Ankara," adding, "I would also like to invite U.S. President Donald Trump to this meeting."