Istanbul peace talks fail to make progress despite prisoner swap

Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a large-scale prisoner exchange but failed to reach a breakthrough during their first direct peace talks since 2022, held in Istanbul without the participation of either Vladimir Putin or Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

- Pjotr Sauer

Sitting down under pressure from the US president, Donald Trump, Ukraine had pushed for a 30-day ceasefire before the talks. Moscow rejected the proposal, appearing to stick to its maximalist demands, which include sweeping restrictions on Ukrainian sovereignty.

Images from the meeting held at the Dolmabahce Palace were stark: a row of Russian delegates in dark suits and, opposite them, Ukrainians wearing their trademark green camouflage combat fatigues.

The only tangible result of the talks, which lasted less than two hours, was that Russia and Ukraine each agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war, the largest prisoner swap of the conflict.

While the meeting appeared to achieve little to end the conflict, it represents a symbolic win for Putin, who refused to accept the 30-day ceasefire that Ukraine and its European allies had demanded as a prerequisite for talks. Putin has been engaged in a delicate balancing act with the US president - appearing to support peace talks to stay in Trump's favour, while pushing for terms that in effect amount to Ukraine's capitulation.