Delegations from Ukraine and Russia are scheduled to meet on June 2 in Istanbul for the next round of peace talks, even as air assaults are ramped up in the military struggle back at home.

Russian state media reported that the Kremlin’s negotiating team had arrived at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport late on June 1 in anticipation of talks to begin at 1 p.m. the next day in the Turkish city.

Meanwhile, in a presidential decree, Kyiv said that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will head Ukraine’s delegation, backed by at least a dozen other officials. The decree did not state if the team had already arrived in Turkey.

The US State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken by phone with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on June 1 to discuss the upcoming talks.

It said the call was made at Russia’s request and that Rubio had reiterated President Donald Trump’s call for continued direct talks to "achieve a lasting peace."

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