Discussion on arranging meeting between Russian, Ukrainian leaders to be possible after all work done - Kremlin

MOSCOW. July 24 (Interfax) - The Kremlin has reiterated that a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders is possible after all the work has been done so that the outcomes of these negotiations are recorded.

Commenting on the third round of Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul held the previous day, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that the Russian side had set out its constructive agenda item by item, which is aimed at substantive work and could result in achieving specific results.

"Then there may be a discussion about arranging a meeting, the very meeting that the Ukrainian side is now talking about, but they are trying to put the carriage before the horse a little bit. First, all the work needs to be done, and then the heads of state can be given the opportunity to record the results that have been attained," Peskov said.

No breakthroughs were expected at the third round of Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul, but the range of humanitarian issues proposed there for discussion should be assessed positively, the presidential press secretary said.

"As a matter of fact, we did not expect a breakthrough. A breakthrough is hardly possible," Peskov told journalists.

Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky confirmed after the third round of talks in Istanbul that the sides' approaches to the draft memorandums remain diametrically opposed, Peskov said.

"However, at the same time, yesterday Medinsky recounted the agenda offered by the Russian side point by point. The agenda is constructive, concrete and aimed at substantive work that could lead to concrete results," he said. 

"Bearing in mind the fact that, given the complex substance of the Ukraine settlement process, any immediate breakthroughs simply could not be expected, the discussion of this range of humanitarian topics should possibly be assessed in a positive way," Peskov said when asked whether the Kremlin's view on the latest round of talks in Istanbul is positive.