Ukraine to make securing a ceasefire a priority in Istanbul talks, says source

Ukraine will make securing a ceasefire a priority in expected talks with a Russian delegation in Istanbul on Friday, a Ukrainian diplomatic source said, adding there was also a need for "confidence-building measures".

The source said on condition of anonymity that Ukrainian negotiators would also raise the possibility of a face-to-face meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"We understand that for any diplomacy to be resultative, there needs to be a ceasefire. Real, durable and well-monitored," the source said. "There also needs to be humanitarian confidence-building measures, such as the return of Ukrainian children, detained civilians, (and the) exchange of prisoners of war on the all-for-all basis."