Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
The meeting took place in Istanbul, Wednesday, and the two sides actually reached an agreement on one point.
The meeting took place in Istanbul, Wednesday, and the two sides actually reached an agreement on one point.
What is happening?
Russia and Ukraine wrapped up a third round of direct negotiations in Istanbul, but the discussions yielded little progress.
Both sides acknowledged a wide gap in their positions, managing to agree only on a prisoner exchange involving 1,200 detainees each, AFP reports.
Talks Lasted Just One Hour at Historic Palace
Held at the Ciragan Palace, the meeting was over in barely an hour.
Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinski described the sides’ stances as “quite far apart,” underlining the enduring challenges in finding common ground.
Kremlin Tempered Expectations Early On
Even before the talks began, the Kremlin had warned against optimism.
Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated the discussion would be “very complicated,” and reiterated that the parties’ visions for ending the conflict were “diametrically opposed.”
Russia Floats Temporary Ceasefires
Russia proposed short, 24–48-hour ceasefires to allow for the retrieval of the dead and wounded.
While these humanitarian pauses have occurred in the past, Ukraine is pushing for a broader, longer-term ceasefire—something Moscow is unwilling to concede.
Another Exchange of Fallen Soldiers Offered
Moscow also offered to return the bodies of 3,000 Ukrainian soldiers.
Previous prisoner and body exchanges have taken place, but critics argue such measures don’t address the root causes of the war.
Ukraine Calls for Zelensky-Putin Summit
Ukraine has renewed its call for a face-to-face meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov suggested the summit could occur by late August, possibly with U.S. and Turkish leaders present.
Kiev Rejects Russian “Ultimatums”
Ahead of the talks, a Ukrainian delegate expressed hope that Moscow would adopt a more constructive tone and drop its “ultimatums.”
However, no signs emerged that Russia is ready to soften its stance.
U.S. Pressure Adds Urgency
The renewed push for negotiations follows pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who reportedly gave Russia a 50-day window to reach a deal or face harsh sanctions.
Moscow Continues to Gain Ground
Despite the diplomatic efforts, Russia’s military continues its offensive. On the same day as the talks, Moscow announced it had captured Varatchyne, a village in Ukraine’s Sumy region.
Drone strikes also knocked out power to over 220,000 residents overnight.
Peace Proposals Remain Worlds Apart
The sides remain locked in fundamentally opposing positions. Moscow demands Ukraine surrender territory—including Crimea and four other regions—and renounce NATO ambitions.
Ukraine, in turn, insists on full Russian withdrawal and Western security guarantees. Neither side appears ready to budge.
