Key Points
- First direct meeting on the conflict in Ukraine since 2022
- Kyiv calls for an unconditional ceasefire
- The possibility of Zelensky-Putin meeting discussed
- Russia satisfied with the outcome of talks
ISTANBUL, Türkiye: Russian and Ukrainian officials on Friday concluded their first direct talks in over three years, with both sides agreeing to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war.
This is their first direct meeting on the conflict in Ukraine since 2022, however, Russian President Vladimir Putin did not attend the talks.
Kyiv is calling for an “unconditional ceasefire” in what has become Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II—a war that has devastated vast areas of Ukraine and displaced millions of people.
Moscow, meanwhile, has expressed a desire to address the “root causes” of the war and revive stalled 2022 negotiations, during which it had presented broad territorial and political demands to Ukraine.
During the talks, both sides discussed the possibility of a ceasefire as well as a potential meeting of their countries’ leaders, negotiators from both sides said in separate televised statements.
In the coming days, there will be a large-scale exchange of prisoners, 1,000 for 1,000,” Russia’s negotiator Vladimir Medinsky, said.
“The Ukrainian side has requested direct talks between the heads of state. We have taken note of this request… We have agreed that each side will present its vision of a possible future ceasefire,” he added.
Ukraine’s top negotiator, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, confirmed the swap in a separate statement and said a ceasefire and a possible Zelensky-Putin meeting had been discussed.
Positive Signs from Moscow
Russia is “satisfied” with the outcome of its first direct peace talks with Ukraine in years, held in Istanbul on Friday, and is open to further negotiations, according to Moscow’s chief negotiator.
We are generally satisfied with the results and ready to continue discussions, Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky told state television.
He added that once both sides exchange ideas on a potential ceasefire, the negotiation process could move forward.
Ukraine pushes for action
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday called for “strong” Western action against Moscow, including new sanctions, if peace talks in Istanbul fail to produce a breakthrough.
We had a real chance to take important steps towards ending this war if only Putin had not been afraid to come to Türkiye, Zelensky told European leaders gathered in Tirana.
“If it turns out that the Russian delegation really is just theatrical and can’t deliver any results today… there needs to be a strong reaction, including sanctions against Russia’s energy sector and banks,” he said.
It is worth mentioning that Russian President Vladimir Putin declined to travel to Turkiye for the talks, which he had proposed, sending a second-level delegation instead.
Zelensky claimed that Putin was “afraid” of meeting, and criticised Russia for not taking the talks “seriously.”
“I was ready for a direct meeting with Putin, whether in Ankara or in Istanbul, and not just for a meeting but to resolve all the important issues,” Zelensky said. “But he [President Putin] didn’t agree with anything I put to him.”
Both Moscow and Washington have emphasised the importance of a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump to address the ongoing conflict.
Contacts between presidents Putin and Trump are extremely important in the context of the Ukrainian settlement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Trump briefed on talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s spokesperson said that the leaders of Ukraine, France, Germany, Britain, and Poland held a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Friday, following the conclusion of talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials in Istanbul.
“President Zelensky, President Macron, Chancellor Merz, PM Starmer and PM Tusk had a phone conversation with Donald Trump,” Sergiy Nykyforov said in a message to reporters.
Zelensky slams Russia’s approach
Zelensky held a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday.
After the meeting, Zelensky said that Russia was “not taking the real negotiations very seriously” and said he had sent a high-level delegation “out of respect” for Erdogan and Trump.
