Istanbul Talks End with Agreement on Prisoner Swap, No Progress on Ceasefire
Agreement Reached on Prisoner Release - Moscow Delivers Peace Proposal
The second round of discussions between Russia and Ukraine over a potential truce has wrapped up in Istanbul. The talks lasted around an hour, according to the participating parties. No further sessions are scheduled for today. Ukrainian Defense Minister and delegation leader Rustem Umerov reported that both sides consented to the exchange of all prisoners of war aged 18 to 25, as well as the seriously wounded or ill ones. They also agreed to swap the remains of 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers for 6,000 Russian soldiers. Ukraine has proposed another round of talks with Russia by the end of June, tentatively between the 20th and 30th.
Russia, for its part, has presented a multi-step plan aimed at achieving a lasting peace and a full ceasefire. Ukrainian officials have accepted the plan, but they've yet to provide specifics regarding their response. The plan is alleged to be quite comprehensive, with the first part outlining Moscow's proposals for achieving lasting peace and the second part detailing measures to secure a full ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expects a detailed report from Defense Minister Umerov following the discussions. Zelenskyy made these remarks during a visit to Vilnius, Lithuania, while preparations for a new prisoner exchange are underway.
The head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, stated on Telegram that the discussions focused on the return of children illegally deported, forcibly resettled, or being held in occupied territories. Russia reportedly has a list of 339 children that will be reviewed to facilitate their reunification with their parents.
Before the second round, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, as the host, stated, "The world's eyes are on the contacts here." The talks took place at the Ciragan Palace on the Bosphorus, with high-ranking representatives of several European states, including Germany, also in attendance. European partners are serving as foreign and security policy advisors in Istanbul, ready to contribute to the talks if necessary.
During the first round of talks in Istanbul on May 16, both sides agreed to the largest prisoner exchange of the war, each with 1,000. However, there was no progress on a ceasefire. Ukraine had initially demanded an unconditional 30-day ceasefire as a first step, but Russia conditioned a ceasefire on certain requirements, such as a halt to Western states' arms deliveries to Ukraine and the suspension of Ukrainian military mobilization efforts.
Sources: ntv.de, lar/jwu/dpa/rts
- Istanbul
- Diplomacy
- Ukraine Conflict
Additional Insights:
- Prisoners of War: The agreed-upon exchange may include imprisoned journalists and political prisoners held in Russia.
- Ceasefire: The Ukrainian government views Russia's ceasefire demands as an unacceptable call for surrender.
- Given the recent agreement on a prisoner exchange and the proposed multi-step plan for peace, it's crucial for both Ukraine and Russia to address their community policies with regard to political prisoners, including journalists and activists, as part of their efforts towards a permanent ceasefire.
- With the ongoing talks in Istanbul focusing on various aspects of the Ukraine Conflict, including prisoner exchanges and the discussion of war-and-conflicts, it's important to monitor the general-news for developments related to politics and crime-and-justice, particularly in relation to the treatment of prisoners of war and the possibility of a lasting ceasefire.
