ISTANBUL (AP) — Delegations from Russia and Ukraine met Monday in Turkey for their second round of direct peace talks in just over two weeks, although expectations were low for any significant progress on ending the3-year-old war after a string of stunning attacks over the weekend.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that the second round of Russia-Ukraine talks held in Istanbul on Monday marked a "historic step" toward ending the war that has entered its fourth year.

Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council and former president of the Russian Federation, has declared that the true purpose of the so-called peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul is to ensure Russia's swift and complete victory.