Russia and Ukraine agree to exchange prisoners, return dead soldiers in Istanbul talks

Russia and Ukraine agreed on Monday to carry out a new exchange of prisoners of war and repatriate the remains of 12,000 soldiers, during brief peace talks held in Istanbul. 

This marked only the second round of such negotiations since March 2022.

The meeting, which lasted less than an hour, was described by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan as a “great meeting.” He expressed hope of eventually bringing together Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and U.S. President Donald Trump for direct talks in Turkey.

However, the talks did not yield progress on securing a ceasefire, which Ukraine, the U.S., and European allies have been urging Russia to accept. The Kremlin reiterated that it is seeking a long-term resolution rather than a temporary halt to fighting, while Kyiv accused Moscow of lacking genuine interest in peace.

Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky, who leads the Russian delegation, said Russia submitted a detailed memorandum outlining its terms for a full ceasefire and proposed a temporary, localized truce lasting two to three days to allow for the recovery of fallen soldiers. Each side agreed to return the bodies of 6,000 soldiers to the other.

The two parties also agreed to a new prisoner swap following a previous exchange of 1,000 captives on each side after the May 15 talks in Istanbul. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, who led Kyiv's delegation, said this round would prioritize severely wounded individuals and young prisoners.

Umerov added that Russia had presented a draft peace accord and that Ukraine—having prepared its own version—would review the proposal. He noted that Kyiv had proposed further negotiations before the end of June, though Ukraine believes that only direct talks between Zelenskiy and Putin can resolve the core issues.

Zelenskiy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, also said Ukraine requested the return of children it claims were forcibly deported to Russia. Russia insists the children were relocated for their safety. Medinsky said Ukraine had listed 339 names, but claimed the children were "saved, not abducted."

No Breakthrough Amid Rising Tensions

Expectations for significant progress in Istanbul were low, especially after Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack a day earlier, targeting Russian strategic bomber bases in Siberia. Russian military bloggers called for strong retaliation.

Despite mutual interest in keeping former U.S. President Donald Trump involved in the peace process, deep divisions remain. Ukraine accuses Russia of seeking its surrender, while Moscow, buoyed by recent battlefield gains, insists Kyiv must accept its terms or risk further territorial losses.

Putin's conditions for ending the war, first outlined last June, include Ukraine abandoning its NATO ambitions and withdrawing from all four regions claimed and largely occupied by Russia.

In contrast, a Ukrainian peace roadmap viewed by Reuters demands no limits on Ukraine’s future military capabilities, no recognition of Russian control over occupied territories, and reparations from Moscow.

Currently, Russia controls nearly 20% of Ukraine—about 113,100 square kilometers, roughly the size of Ohio.

The war began on February 24, 2022, following years of conflict in eastern Ukraine between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces. Since then, according to the U.S., more than 1.2 million people have been killed or injured.

Former President Trump, who has criticized both leaders, has claimed peace is achievable and warned that continued delays from Moscow could result in harsh sanctions.