Foreign Minister Fidan Is Called The Moderator Of Russia-Ukraine Negotiations At The Ciragan Palace Istanbul

JAKARTA - Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will moderate Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul on Monday, while Turkey's Director of National Intelligence Organization Ibrahim Kalin plans to attend the talks, a source at the Turkish Foreign Ministry told TASS.

"The meeting between the Turkish, Russian and Ukrainian delegations is scheduled for 13:00 p.m. local time and will be chaired by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan," the source said, launching TASS June 2.

"The opening speech will be broadcast live. Director of the National Intelligence Organization Ibrahim Kalin is also expected to attend the meeting," the source continued.

It is unclear whether the protocol for this meeting refers to a trilateral format.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova on May 30 said Turkey or any other party would not mediate negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul.

The source also provided a list of participants in the Russian and Ukrainian delegations. According to the ministry, Russia will be represented by "presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin and head of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Igor Kostyukov."

On the other hand, the Ukrainian delegation includes "Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov, First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Kislitsa, Deputy Head of Security Service Alexander Poklad, Deputy First Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service Oleg Lugovsky."

Talks will take place at the Ciragan Palace on the banks of the Bosphorus Strait. This historic building complex, which includes a hotel, was used by Turkish authorities to host an official event. Previous talks on May 16 took place at the Dolmabahce Palace.