Next round of Russia-Ukraine talks scheduled to take place in Istanbul on Wed - Zelensky

MOSCOW. July 22 (Interfax) - Ukrainian and Russian delegations are expected to meet in Turkey on Wednesday, Ukrainian media quoted President Vladimir Zelensky as saying on Monday evening after a meeting with secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov.

"Today, Rustem Umerov and I discussed preparations for a [prisoner] exchange and another meeting with the Russian side in Turkey. Umerov reported that the meeting is planned for Wednesday," media outlets quoted Zelensky as saying in his nightly video address.

Meanwhile, Moscow confirmed its interest in holding the third round of negotiations on Ukraine, which should include an exchange of opinions on Moscow and Kiev's memorandums, which are diametrically opposed thus far, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Monday.

"There's our draft memorandum, and there's a draft memorandum presented by the Ukrainian side. There's going to be an exchange of opinions and negotiations on these two drafts, which, so to speak, are absolutely diametrically opposed thus far," Peskov said.

"A lot of diplomatic work is ahead," he said.

"There are no changes in Russia's negotiating team, Peskov said.

"You know that we're in favor of a third round [of negotiations on Ukraine]. As soon as there's an understanding on the dates, we'll immediately inform you," he said.

The Kremlin does not expect any breakthroughs from another round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, while Russia is determined to attain its goals in the Ukraine settlement process, Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

"Certainly, there's no reason to expect some miraculous breakthroughs, and this is hardly possible in the current situation," Peskov told journalists.

"We're determined to attain our interests, we're determined to secure our interests and perform the tasks that we've set ourselves all along," he said.