The conversation will take place at Ciragan Palace in central Istanbul, the city that hosted the two previous rounds of talks, with no concrete results for a cessation of hostilities.

Moscow and Kiev resumed direct talks in Istanbul on May 16, for the first time in more than three years, and on that occasion agreed on a massive exchange of prisoners which was completed in three successive exchanges from May 23 to 25.

On June 2, the two countries held the second round of negotiations in which they exchanged their specifications for a ceasefire with a view to a sustainable peace agreement.

President Vladimir Putin later reaffirmed that Moscow was ready to hold a third round of direct talks with Kiev and said his country would hand over to Ukraine about three thousand more bodies of fallen fighters.

abo/ro/ehl