The senior official noted that Russian and Ukrainian negotiators will have to compare the parties’ reactions to each other’s draft memoranda on the solution to the conflict.

Moscow and Kiev resumed direct talks in Istanbul, Turkiye, on May 16 for the first time in more than three years.

At that first meeting, the parties agreed to a massive prisoner swap under the 1,000-for-1,000 formula, which was completed in three successive rounds from May 23 to 25.

At the second meeting, also held in Istanbul on June 2, Moscow announced that it would hand over to Kiev the preserved bodies of 6,000 deceased Ukrainian soldiers.

Ukraine, in turn, presented Russia with a list of 339 children who were allegedly in Russian territory after the outbreak of the conflict and are currently being sought by their families.

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