Vladimir Putin

ISTANBUL – Russian and Ukrainian negotiators are set to meet in Istanbul on Wednesday for a third round of talks since May, though little progress on ending their three-year-old war.

This is expected as positions remained far apart.

In spite of the negotiations, Russian shelling of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson killed a 66-year-old woman overnight.

This is according to regional military governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

Three people, including two 13-year-olds, were injured, he said on Telegram.

The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia launched 71 drones and drone decoys during the night, of which 45 were intercepted or brought down using electronic countermeasures.

The strikes targeted the regions of Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Kharkiv and Cherkasy.

Expectations remain low for a breakthrough in the Istanbul talks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that detailed ceasefire talks are not on the agenda.

Instead, the focus will be on the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war and abducted children, as well as preparations for a potential presidential-level meeting.

“We need more momentum in the negotiations to end the war,’’ Zelensky said, explaining his insistence on a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Kremlin, meanwhile, said that position papers previously exchanged by the two parties on possible peace frameworks would be discussed.

However, spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that “major diplomatic work’’ would be needed to reach any agreement on a ceasefire.

While Kiev insisted on an unconditional ceasefire to allow for negotiations to end the conflict, Russia has been sticking to its maximum demands.

It’s including the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the eastern regions Moscow illegally annexed.

Ukraine and Russia began holding direct talks for the first time in over three years in May.

So far, the negotiations have resulted in a large-scale exchange of prisoners of war, with soldiers under the age of 25 and severely wounded combatants released most recently.

The Russian delegation is again to be led by presidential adviser and former culture minister Vladimir Medinsky, according to the Kremlin.

The Ukrainian team is set to be led by former defence minister Rustem Umerov, who has since been appointed head of the National Security and Defence Council. (dpa/NAN)