Istanbul: In a significant diplomatic development, Russia and Ukraine have agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each, marking the first concrete outcome from their first formal negotiations since March 2022.
The talks, held in Istanbul on Friday, come amid continued international pressure—particularly from Turkey and the United States—for both nations to re-engage in dialogue. This marks the first time since the war began over three years ago that official delegations have met face to face.
Notably, the Ukrainian delegation made a symbolic statement: more than half of its members wore military uniforms, underlining their country’s ongoing experience as a nation under attack. There was no handshake between the two sides, underscoring the lingering hostility and deep mistrust.
The negotiation venue was adorned with the flags of Ukraine, Russia, and Turkey. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who played host, addressed the delegations with a stark message: “From here, there are two paths—one toward peace, the other toward more destruction and loss of life.”
Despite the symbolic significance of the talks, the actual negotiations lasted less than two hours and exposed serious divisions. A Ukrainian official revealed that the Kremlin introduced “new and unacceptable demands,” including a ceasefire conditional upon Ukraine withdrawing troops from large swathes of its own territory.
While no progress was made on a ceasefire, the agreement on the prisoner swap has been widely welcomed. Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsya described it as “a very good ending to a very difficult day,” calling it potentially the best news for 1,000 Ukrainian families.
Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who led his country’s delegation, confirmed that the exchange would take place soon, though he declined to reveal the exact date. “The next step,” he added, “should be a meeting between President Zelensky and President Putin.”
Russia’s delegation head, Vladimir Medinsky—a presidential aide—acknowledged the proposal and stated that Moscow was satisfied with the talks and open to continued engagement.
However, skepticism remains high among Ukrainian officials and some Western allies. They suspect Moscow may be using the talks as a stalling tactic—to deflect pressure for a ceasefire and undermine the momentum for the European Union’s 18th round of sanctions.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in on the situation, saying that no real progress will be made unless he and President Putin meet in person. “Nothing will happen until Putin and I sit down together,” he stated on Thursday.
The timing of such a summit remains unclear. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged that while top-level talks are “necessary,” organizing them will take time.
