Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks in Istanbul Yield Prisoner Exchange, No Breakthrough

Report by Safarti Tarjuman International Desk

Russia and Ukraine held their first direct peace talks since 2022 in Istanbul but failed to reach a meaningful breakthrough. The only concrete outcome of the nearly two-hour meeting was a mutual agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each — the largest such swap since the conflict began.

The high-level talks took place under US pressure, with President Donald Trump pushing both sides to negotiate. However, Moscow refused Ukraine’s demand for a 30-day ceasefire, maintaining its hardline stance and insisting on wide-reaching restrictions on Ukrainian sovereignty.

The symbolic setting at Dolmabahce Palace highlighted the divide: Russian delegates in dark suits sat opposite Ukrainian representatives in military fatigues. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan chaired the session, underscoring Ankara’s mediation role.

His attempt to expose Russian intransigence and gain favor with Washington did not yield the desired results. Russia’s delegation, led by Vladimir Medinsky, expressed satisfaction and indicated willingness for further dialogue.

Both sides reportedly discussed a potential meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy. However, the failure to reach a ceasefire increased concern in Kyiv that decisions about Ukraine’s fate might soon be made without its full participation.

President Trump, speaking after the talks, said he would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin “as soon as we can set it up,” signaling a potential shift to a direct US-Russia summit. His statement caused unease in Ukraine, where leaders fear being sidelined in future negotiations.

Zelenskyy responded by urging the international community to impose stricter sanctions on Moscow if it continues to reject a ceasefire. European leaders including the UK’s Keir Starmer, France’s Emmanuel Macron, and Germany’s Friedrich Merz also condemned Russia’s demands as unacceptable during a joint call with Trump after the talks.