Russia and Ukraine have wrapped up a second round of peace talks without resolving key differences, but both sides agreed to a limited prisoner swap.
The negotiations, held in Istanbul, lasted just over an hour and produced no breakthrough on ending the ongoing war that has stretched into its third year.
The Ukrainian delegation pushed again for a complete, unconditional ceasefire to halt the fighting for at least 30 days. Kyiv said it had sent its proposals to Moscow days before the meeting, urging a halt to the violence. However, Russian negotiators rejected that demand and instead offered only a short pause in fighting in certain areas along the front line. No details were shared on when or where that might happen.
Both countries did find common ground on one humanitarian issue. They agreed to exchange all sick or seriously wounded prisoners of war, along with any soldiers under the age of 25. Russia also pledged to return the bodies of 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers. Still, no exact timeline was given for when these exchanges would take place.
Ukraine’s defence minister said the talks failed to move the peace process forward and described the current situation as fragile. Ukrainian officials are now waiting for Russia’s formal response to their truce proposals, which could come by the end of June. They are also preparing for a possible direct meeting between Presidents Zelensky and Putin, though no date has been set.
Russia currently holds about a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which it annexed more than a decade ago. The slow progress in negotiations has led to growing frustration among Ukraine’s Western allies, many of whom suspect Moscow is using the talks as a distraction while continuing military operations.
In the US, President Donald Trump has faced criticism for not placing harsher sanctions on Russia. Although he recently criticized President Putin following a massive air attack on Ukraine, Washington has so far stopped short of taking tougher action. Trump’s earlier calls for a swift peace deal have not translated into stronger pressure on Moscow.
Despite repeated diplomatic efforts, the war continues with no end in sight. For now, both countries remain deeply divided on how to stop the conflict, and civilians across Ukraine continue to bear the brunt of the violence.