What Russia and Ukraine agreed in 2nd round of Istanbul talks

Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky reported the key outcomes of the negotiations with Ukrainian representatives in Istanbul.

Key statements:

• Russia handed Ukraine a draft memorandum on settlement, which Kiev took for study
• The Russian settlement memorandum is in two parts and is detailed and well-developed
• The first part focuses on how to achieve genuine long-term peace
• The second part outlines steps for a full ceasefire, allowing for flexibility and multiple paths to that goal
• Russia will unilaterally transfer 6,000 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers to Kiev next week, having identified all the deceased
• The parties agreed on the largest-yet prisoner exchange
• The total exchange will be at least 1,000 prisoners, possibly more
• Sick and seriously wounded prisoners will be exchanged on an "all for all" basis
• Moscow and Kiev will create a commission to exchange seriously wounded troops without political decisions
• The sides will exchange soldiers under the age of 25
• Russia offered Ukraine a concrete ceasefire for two to three days in certain frontline sectors
• Moscow and Kiev agreed to a ceasefire in specific areas so commanders can retrieve the bodies of their soldiers
• The Ukrainian armed forces promised to work out the ceasefire proposal for those areas soon
• Kiev turned the issue of 'child abductions' into a 'show for sentimental Europeans'
• No children have been kidnapped by Moscow, only rescued by Russian soldiers
• Russia received a list of 339 children from Ukraine who are in difficult situations due to the conflict
• Moscow returns children to Kiev if their parents or legal guardians are present
• Russia is working on reuniting families separated by the Ukraine conflict
• The negotiations with Ukraine were conducted in Russian

The Russian delegation is satisfied with the results of the second round of talks with Ukraine, said Vladimir Medinsky, aide to the President of the Russian Federation and head of the Russian negotiation team in Istanbul, to Sputnik.

"Yes," Medinsky replied to the corresponding question.