Ukrainian and Russian negotiators met in Istanbul’s Dolmabahce Palace but ended their talks after less than two hours without agreeing on a ceasefire. Russia demanded that Ukraine withdraw from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, regions it does not fully control. Ukraine refused this demand and insisted on a complete and unconditional 30-day ceasefire. Despite the lack of progress on ending the fighting, both sides agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each, marking the largest swap since the conflict began.
The prisoner exchange represents a rare step forward amid stalled talks. Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said discussions included the possibility of a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Russian envoy Vladimir Medinsky said both sides plan to submit detailed ceasefire proposals soon. After the meeting, Zelenskyy briefed allies in the US, UK, Germany, France, and Poland, urging stronger sanctions if Russia refuses a ceasefire and continues attacks.
Zelenskyy also attended a summit in Albania with European leaders focused on enhancing regional security and democratic cooperation. He stressed the importance of coordinated diplomatic and economic pressure on Russia to end the conflict. Former US President Donald Trump called for a direct meeting with Putin to help end the war. He emphasized the need for dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow and expressed his willingness to help broker peace if both sides agree to talks.
