Ukraine, Russia inch toward peace after Istanbul talks
The talks between Ukraine and Russia aimed at ending the war have concluded in Istanbul. The meeting lasted approximately one hour. During the negotiations, Kyiv submitted a list of children allegedly abducted by Russia. An agreement was reached regarding the exchange of prisoners.
what do you need to know?
- Talks in Istanbul: On Monday, talks were held in Istanbul between the delegations from Ukraine and Russia, spanning about an hour. The objective of the meeting was to explore ways to end the war in Ukraine.
- List of abducted children: Ukraine provided Russia with a list of Ukrainian children believed to be held in occupied territories. Kyiv expects their return.
- Ceasefire proposal: Ukraine has proposed a 30-day ceasefire, the exchange of prisoners of war, and the return of abducted children as steps towards achieving lasting peace.
What are the key conclusions of the talks in Istanbul?
The discussions in Istanbul between Ukrainian and Russian delegations focused on potential solutions to end the war in Ukraine. The meeting, which lasted about an hour, had Turkey acting as the mediator. This was the second round of negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.
During the talks, Ukraine presented a list of Ukrainian children they claim were abducted by Russia. Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president's office, mentioned that the list includes hundreds of children alleged to have been illegally deported or held by Russia in temporarily occupied territories. "Today, during the talks in Istanbul, the Ukrainian side officially gave the Russian side a list of Ukrainian children who must be returned," Yermak wrote on Telegram.
Have Ukraine and Russia reached an agreement?
Ukraine emphasizes that the return of the children is a crucial component of a just and lasting peace agreement. "The ball is in Russia's court. True good faith is not words, but actions. And now is the time to prove it," said Yermak. Before the meeting in Istanbul, Ukraine suggested that the peace process should begin with a 30-day ceasefire, alongside the exchange of all prisoners of war and the return of children abducted from territories occupied by Russia.
Kyiv is also calling for a direct meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Ukraine is seeking concrete actions from Russia that would demonstrate a willingness to end the conflict.
Exchange of prisoners
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov announced on Monday that during the meeting of Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul, an agreement was reached to exchange all seriously ill prisoners of war and those under 25.
Umerov also mentioned that in Istanbul, the Ukrainian side received a memorandum from Russia concerning a peace agreement, which the authorities in Kyiv are currently analyzing.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Serhiy Kyslytsya has pointed out that Russia continues to reject the idea of an unconditional ceasefire.
