Ukraine-Russia talks in Istanbul yield prisoner exchange deal
The talks between Ukraine and Russia regarding the end of the war have concluded in Istanbul. The meeting lasted one hour. Kyiv handed over a list of children abducted to Russia. An agreement was reached during the negotiations regarding the exchange of prisoners.
What do you need to know?
- Talks in Istanbul: On Monday, talks were held in Istanbul between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations, lasting approximately an hour—the meeting aimed to discuss the possibilities of ending the war in Ukraine.
- List of abducted children: Ukraine handed Russia a list of Ukrainian children who are held in occupied territories. Kyiv expects their return.
- Ceasefire proposal: Ukraine proposes a 30-day ceasefire, the exchange of prisoners of war, and the return of abducted children as steps towards lasting peace.
What are the key conclusions of the talks in Istanbul?
The talks between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul aimed to discuss the possibilities of ending the war in Ukraine. The meeting lasted about an hour, with Turkey acting as the mediator. This was the second round of negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.
During the talks, Ukraine handed Russia a list of Ukrainian children who were abducted to Russia. Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian president's office, reported that the list contains hundreds of children 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 emphasises that the return of the children is an integral part 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," stated Yermak. Before the meeting in Istanbul, Ukraine proposed that the path to peace should begin with a 30-day ceasefire, the exchange of all prisoners of war, and the return of children abducted from territories occupied by Russia.
Kyiv also demands a direct meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Ukraine expects specific actions from Russia that will confirm readiness 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 stated that in Istanbul, the Ukrainian side received a memorandum from Russia regarding a peace agreement, and the authorities in Kyiv are currently analysing this document.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Serhiy Kyslytsya informed that Russia continues to reject the idea of an unconditional ceasefire.
