Monday saw a second round of negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul produce a major agreement on prisoner of war exchange. Still, despite Ukraine’s requests for a short break in hostilities, no progress was achieved toward a ceasefire.
Held at Istanbul’s venerable Çırağan Palace, the conference brought together negotiators on both sides. Though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was not there, he afterwards verified that both countries had decided to trade at least 1,000 prisoners total, with a potential additional 200. Although logistical planning is still needed, it was also agreed upon the return of fallen soldiers’ remains.
Ukraine urged for the return of hundreds of children it alleged had been forcibly transported to Russia. Zelenskyy said a list of almost 400 children was given, but Russia supposedly accepted only 10 for repatriation. Chief negotiator Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s defense minister, stressed once more that the problem is still a fundamental priority”.
Led by Vladimir Medinsky, the Russian delegation acknowledged getting the list but made no publicly stated pledge. Under two hours of discussions included more than a dozen representatives from each side: Russian delegates in suits and the Ukrainian side mainly in uniform.
While a ceasefire remained out of reach, Russia submitted a written proposal presenting two alternatives: one requiring a complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Russian-occupied territories and a second, more involved package with unknown conditions. Ukrainian authorities claimed they would need time to review the proposal and suggested reconvening sometime in June.
Simultaneously, both nations intensified military activities. Ukraine carried out a long-planned drone strike—under Operation Spiderweb—aiming at several Russian airbases as far as Siberia. Ukrainian intelligence estimates that the attack harmed or destroyed 41 military planes, including strategic bombers, therefore causing about $7 billion in losses. According to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, the operation—which was driven by inventive battlefield technologies—was a “game-changer.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey said he hoped to enable a future Zelenskyy-Russian President Vladimir Putin meeting. He also proposed the possibility of former U.S. President Donald Trump signaling Ankara’s desire to be front and center in mediation attempts.
Both Ukrainian and Russian delegates expressed a readiness to keep talks going despite unceasing violence and no ceasefire. Emphasizing that a solution to fundamental problems calls for involvement at the leadership level, Kyiv reiterated its readiness for high-level discussions.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry spokesperson said, “The door remains open; should President Putin be ready to meet, President Zelenskyy is ready also.”
