Top Russia, Ukraine diplomats begin talks in Turkey: officials
Gulf Times
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu welcomes Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov before trilateral talks with Ukraine's Foreign Minister in Antalya.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday began talks in Turkey in the first such high-level contact since Moscow invaded its neighbour, officials from both sides and their hosts said.
The ministers began talks on the sidelines of a diplomatic forum in the southern Turkish resort of Antalya, joined by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, a Turkish official told AFP in comments confirmed by the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministries.
Turkey has for weeks pushed to play a mediation role in the conflict. But analysts fear there are only the lowest chances of a breakthrough at the meeting.
Images of the meeting showed the Russian, Turkish and Ukrainian delegations sitting on each side of an 'n' shaped table, with each minister accompanied by just two other officials.
