The Ukrainian settlement issue is so complex that reaching an agreement on exchanges or returning the bodies of the dead is already effective, said Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
"The Ukrainian settlement issue is so complex that reaching an agreement on exchanges or returning the bodies of the dead is already effective," he told reporters, answering a question about what results the Kremlin expects from the third round of negotiations.
Moscow hopes that a new round of talks with Ukraine will take place this week, Peskov added.
"We hope that it [the third round] will be this week, as soon as we are ready, we will make a statement on the dates," Peskov told reporters.
When asked about a timeframe for a possible agreement on the Ukrainian settlement, the official said that it depends on many factors.
There is no reason to expect any "miraculous breakthroughs" during the new round of negotiations with Ukraine, he clarified.
"Of course, there is no reason to count on any miraculous breakthroughs. It is unlikely to be possible in the current situation," Peskov said when asked about what results the Kremlin expects from the third round of negotiations.
At the same time, Russia intends to ensure its interests in the issue of the Ukrainian settlement and achieve those goals that were set in the very beginning, the spokesman added.
Kremlin Says Not Sharing Skepticism on Effectiveness of Recent Moscow-Kiev Talks
"In this case, I would not share your skepticism," Peskov told reporters when asked what results the Kremlin expects from the third round of negotiations.
Commenting on the possibility of a high-level and top-level meetings between Russia and Ukraine, the official said that there is a lot of work to be done.
"To be fair, this ban [in Ukraine on negotiations with Russia] is still in effect. That is an obvious fact," Peskov added.
A new round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will take place on July 24-25, a source in Moscow told Sputnik earlier. The probable third round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine is planned to be held in the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul, one of the organizers of the negotiations told Sputnik.
Russia and Ukraine held two rounds of direct negotiations, the meetings took place in Istanbul. They resulted in an exchange of prisoners, and Moscow handed over the bodies of the dead servicemen to the Kiev regime.
In addition, the parties exchanged draft memorandums on the settlement of the conflict. However, the date of the third round has not yet been determined, despite the fact that Turkey and Russia have repeatedly declared their readiness to hold it.