The Russian delegation arrived in Istanbul for talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, with their plane landing at Atatürk Airport, the Interfax news agency reported on Thursday.
The exact time for the start of negotiations with the Ukrainian delegation is yet to be confirmed, the agency reported, citing sources close to the Russian negotiators.
Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin himself proposed the direct talks in Istanbul, but until recently, he had not confirmed whether he would attend in person.
It was only late on Wednesday that it became known that Vladimir Medinsky would head the Russian delegation.
Mr Medinsky, a presidential adviser and former culture minister, is considered a political lightweight in Moscow.
He previously led the last direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in 2022, which ended without any breakthroughs.
