The second round of direct peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine ended without a major breakthrough, and only the agreement was concluded to trade more prisoners of war.
Ukrainian negotiators have said Russia has once again refused to make a “unconditional ceasefire.” This is an important demand by Kiev and its allies in Europe and the US.
The Russian team said they proposed a two- to three-day ceasefire “in certain regions” on the vast frontline, but did not give further details.
In a Monday speech that took place in Istanbul, Turkey, and lasted more than an hour, the two agreed to trade all prisoners of war that were seriously injured due to illness under the age of 25.
Both sides remained deeply divided on how to end the war, which has been raging since Russia launched a full-scale Ukraine invasion in February 2022, and expectations were low even before talks began.
Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including the Southern Crimea Peninsula, which annexed in 2014.
Speaking at the briefing after the meeting, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who led the Kiev negotiating team, said Ukraine had been insisting a “complete and unconditional ceasefire” at sea and in the air for at least 30 days.
He said Ukraine handed over the proposal for a ceasefire to Russia “a few days ago,” but Moscow was unable to do the same and presented plans only at Istanbul’s meeting.
Ukrainian vice minister Serhiy Xyrithosia said Russia refused to make an unconditional ceasefire.
Ukraine also handed over a list of hundreds of children who Kiev said were brought powerfully to Russia.
Ukrainian negotiators said they hope for Russia’s response to Ukraine’s proposal by the end of June, underscoring the need to prepare for direct consultations between Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
However, so far there are no indications of progress in the meeting between the two presidents.
Speaking at another news briefing, Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky confirmed all of the prisoners who were sick and seriously injured, and those under the age of 25 will be exchanged. No time frame was given as to when this would occur.
Medinsky also said that Russia will hand over the bodies of 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers to Kiev next week.
Russia refuses to refuse an unconditional ceasefire, preferring to talk about “permanent peace,” and repeats the previous harsh demands that Ukraine and its allies say, equals the de facto surrender of Kiev.
The texts for both Russia and Ukraine’s ceasefire proposal have not been officially published.
However, Russian state media has made public what they say is an important point of Moscow’s position. This includes the constant demand for the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from four partially occupied regions in the southeast and the demobilization of soldiers.
Russia also calls for international recognition of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Herson, Zaporidian regions, and the annexed Crimea.
Other prior conditions include the ban on membership in Ukrainian military alliances, restrictions on the size of the Ukrainian military, Russian as the official language, and lifting international sanctions.
“There is no meaningful signal from Russia to end the war, but it is important to strengthen our defenses,” said President Zelensky, who was attending a summit held in Vilnius, Lithuania on Monday.
He also called for more sanctions pressure on Russia.
In the first round of the direct peace talks held on May 16, Ukraine and Russia failed to fill in the differences in how they ended the war, agreeing to exchange 1,000 prisoners each.
President Zelensky and his European allies have repeatedly accused Russia of intentionally delaying meaningful negotiations in order to seize more Ukrainian territory.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has sought a quick settlement, has so far delayed hitting Russia with severe sanctions.
In a rare responsibilities last month, Trump called Putin “absolutely crazy” following Russia’s biggest drone and missile attacks on Ukraine. In response, the Kremlin said Trump was showing signs of “emotional overload.”
