The direct talks with Ukraine have concluded, Russia is ready to continue contacts, Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who heads the Russian delegation, said on Friday.
“The direct talks with the Ukrainian side organized at the initiative of the Russian president have just ended. Overall, we are satisfied with the result and ready to continue contacts,” Medinsky told journalists after the talks in Istanbul.
The Russian side has taken note of the Ukrainian side’s request for direct talks between the heads of state, Medinsky said.
“The Ukrainian side requested direct talks between the heads of state, we took note of this request,” Medinsky told reporters.
Russia and Ukraine will swap 1,000 for 1,000 prisoners within the next few days, Medinsky said.
“The next few days will see a major prisoner swap, a thousand for a thousand people,” Medinsky told journalists.
