Russia and Ukraine agreed on a major prisoner exchange during their first direct talks in over three years. The meeting, held in Istanbul on Friday, resulted in a deal to swap 1,000 prisoners each, yet failed to produce a ceasefire agreement or major diplomatic progress toward ending the war.
The 90-minute talks were hosted by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at the Dolmabahce Palace and marked the first official dialogue since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Despite the long-anticipated nature of the discussions, they concluded with both sides still far apart on core issues.
Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, confirmed the prisoner exchange and emphasized Kyiv’s call for an “unconditional ceasefire.” However, Russia’s top negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, said only that both nations would “present their vision of a possible future ceasefire,” falling short of any immediate truce.
The talks came amid renewed international pressure, particularly from the United States, to find a peaceful resolution. Yet tensions remained high. Ukrainian sources accused Russia of making “unacceptable” territorial demands including calls for Ukrainian forces to withdraw from areas still under Kyiv’s control. Moscow continues to claim sovereignty over five Ukrainian regions, including Crimea and four others it seized after 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking from a European summit in Albania, criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for refusing to attend the talks in person, saying Putin was “afraid” to engage directly. Zelensky warned that failure to achieve a ceasefire would show that “Putin continues to undermine diplomacy,” calling for global sanctions in response.
Despite the limited outcomes, both parties expressed willingness to continue discussions. A second round of talks is expected, with written ceasefire proposals to be exchanged. While progress remains elusive, the very fact that both sides met signals a potential — albeit fragile opening for future negotiations.
