Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said he believed the next stage of talks should involve the presidents of Ukraine and Russia, following talks with the Kremlin's delegation in Istanbul. "I think the next step would be that the leaders-level meeting should be organised," Umerov — who is Kyiv's lead negotiator — told reporters in Istanbul. The comments came after the first face-to-face peace talks between the sides in more than three years. Ukraine's deputy foreign minister, Serhiy Kyslytsia, said he hoped the nations' two leaders would meet "sooner rather than later."