Russia Ukraine Ceasefire Talks in Istanbul: A second round of direct ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine has concluded in Istanbul, with some progress reported on humanitarian issues but lingering gaps on a broader ceasefire agreement.
Russia Ukraine Ceasefire Talks in Istanbul
A second round of direct ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine has concluded in Istanbul, with some progress reported on humanitarian issues but lingering gaps on a broader ceasefire agreement.
Ukraine has provided Russia with a list of several hundred children it claims were deported to Russian territory. Ukrainian officials insist these children must be returned as part of any peace deal. Russia, in response, stated that the children were taken for their safety due to ongoing hostilities. Ukraine reiterated its willingness to implement a 30-day ceasefire, calling it an essential first step toward broader negotiations.
One of the key breakthroughs from this round of talks was the agreement on a major prisoner exchange. Ukraine’s Defense Minister confirmed that both sides have agreed to an “all-for-all” swap concerning seriously wounded and seriously ill prisoners of war. Additionally, all soldiers between the ages of 18 to 25 will be exchanged on both sides. The agreement also includes the exchange of 6,000 bodies of fallen soldiers from each side.
Ukraine’s President’s Office says: “Ukraine focused on three main priorities during the negotiations: an unconditional ceasefire, a prisoner exchange, and a summit between the countries’ leaders. Ukraine submitted its ceasefire proposal several days ago but has yet to receive a response. Russia handed over its memorandum only today. Both sides will have a week to review each other’s documents before coordinating next steps. The delegations agreed to prioritize the exchange of specific categories of prisoners on an “all-for-all” basis, including the severely wounded and young soldiers aged 18 to 25. They also agreed to exchange 6,000 bodies of fallen soldiers from each side. Ukraine provided Russia with a list of several hundred Ukrainian children who were deported to Russia. Ukraine also proposed holding a leaders’ summit between June 20 and 30, potentially involving other world leaders — including U.S. President Donald Trump.”
Ukrainian officials emphasized that humanitarian actions, a ceasefire, and a leadership summit are essential next steps. The Ukrainian President noted that all critical issues — including the return of abducted children and further ceasefire arrangements — could be resolved in a meeting involving Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump. Speaking at a European security summit in Lithuania, the Ukrainian President underscored that if Russia genuinely seeks to end the war, it will act on the agreed points. Otherwise, he urged the international community to impose stronger sanctions.
In particular, he called for robust sanctions targeting Russian energy exports — including oil and tankers — the introduction of price caps, and severe restrictions on Russian banks and the broader financial sector. He specifically pointed to sanctions promised earlier by President Trump as urgently necessary if talks fail.
Meanwhile, Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinski stated that Ukraine has agreed to consider Russia’s terms for a full ceasefire. He added that Moscow has made a specific proposal starting with a three-day ceasefire in select regions, including a halt to drone attacks. According to Medinski, this limited ceasefire would help clear the path for military leaders to meet and potentially de-escalate the situation further.
Correspondent Dmitri Medenko, reporting live from Istanbul, noted that while the prisoner exchange represents the most concrete success of the negotiations, progress on other issues remains slow. The recent agreement is the most substantial prisoner swap to date, potentially involving between 1,000 and 1,200 soldiers from each side.
Looking ahead, Ukraine has proposed holding another round of talks between June 20 and 30. While Russia has not confirmed these dates, Ukrainian leaders remain optimistic. President Erdogan of Turkey, who hosted the talks, praised them as productive despite lasting just over an hour. He emphasized that the next logical step should be a face-to-face meeting between Presidents Zelensky and Putin — ideally in Istanbul — and suggested that President Trump might also join if such a summit occurs.
However, according to the Ukrainian delegation, Russia has so far shown little responsiveness to the idea of a leaders’ summit. For now, the diplomatic process appears to hinge on the next steps Russia chooses to take — either continuing on the path of dialogue or facing intensified international pressure.
Disclaimer: This article is based on ongoing developments from the Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks held in Istanbul. Information presented reflects statements from official sources and media reports available at the time of writing. Events may evolve, and readers are advised to follow verified updates from trusted news outlets for the latest information.