A meeting between Russia and Ukraine on a potential ceasefire in Istanbul has concluded without a breakthrough, with both sides saying the one-hour discussion will not be continued later in the day.
The Ukrainian Defense Minister and delegation leader, Rustem Umerov, stated that the two sides have agreed on the exchange of war prisoners, with a focus on those with severe injuries and young people.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he expects a full report from Defense Minister Umerov. In Vilnius, he mentioned that documents have been exchanged and a new prisoner exchange is being prepared. Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian President’s office, emphasized that it is about hundreds of children who were illegally deported or held in temporarily occupied areas by Russia. The return of these children is part of a just and stable peace.
The first round of talks on May 16 had already brought about the largest prisoner exchange of the war, with 1,000 prisoners on each side, but did not yield an approach on a ceasefire.