Delegations from Russia and Ukraine set to hold first peace talks in three years

Vehicles begin arriving outside a gate prior to expected talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations at the Dolmabache palace, in Istanbul, Turkey (Dilara Acikgoz/AP)

Russia and Ukraine are due to hold their first direct peace talks in three years, gathering in Istanbul for Turkish-brokered negotiations.

But officials and observers expect them to yield little immediate progress on stopping the more than three-year war on Friday.