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Negotiators for Russia and Ukraine are currently meeting in Istanbul for peace talks. As of this writing, international news outlets are cautiously reporting that they seem to be making some progress.

Earlier today, James Tressler, the former Times-Standard reporter who writes the “Letter From Istanbul” column for the Lost Coast Outpost most Sundays, took a ferry over to Dolmabahçe Palace, where the talks are being held. He sends along this video report from the scene.