Kyiv ready to take 'big steps towards peace': Ukraine delegation source

ISTANBUL: Ukraine is ready to take “big steps” to make progress towards peace at a second round of talks with Russian officials in Istanbul on Monday, a source in Kyiv’s delegation told AFP.

The two sides are expected to exchange plans on how they want to end the three-year Russian invasion of Ukraine, Europe’s largest conflict since World War.

“The Ukrainian delegation came to Istanbul with a clear agenda and readiness to take big steps toward peace,” the source said.

It added in written comments to AFP that Russia had still not provided its roadmap for how to halt the fighting to Ukraine, the United States, or Turkey.

“If they came with the flexibility to take real steps toward peace, on our side we are ready. If they are ready to move forward, not just repeat the same previous ultimatums, then there may be good and big news today,” the source said.

Ukrainian officials in Istanbul separately have met with representatives from Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom ahead of talks with Russian delegates, Kyiv’s foreign ministry spokesman said.

“The sides coordinated positions ahead of today’s meeting between Ukrainian and Russian delegations. Members of the Ukrainian delegation reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to peace efforts,” the spokesman said.