MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed in a telephone conversation with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he is ready to seek a diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the Kremlin’s press office said in a statement on Friday.
“Talking about Ukraine, Vladimir Putin reaffirmed his principled commitment to find a political and diplomatic solution to the conflict,” the statement reads.
On June 2, the second round of Russia-Ukraine talks took place in Istanbul, Turkey. The parties exchanged memoranda clarifying their terms for the resolution of the conflict.
They also agreed to carry out an “all-for-all” exchange of seriously ill prisoners of war and those under 25 years – at least 1,000 people on each side.
In addition, the parties agreed that Russia would hand over the bodies of 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers to Kiev. Russian Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky, who headed Moscow’s delegation to the talks, confirmed Monday that Russia honored its commitment by transferring the bodies of 6,060 Ukrainian service members to Kiev.
The first round of talks was held in Istanbul on May 16, with the parties agreeing to a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange and exchanging memoranda on ways to resolve the crisis. (TASS)
