A Hour-Long Meeting in Istanbul Leads to Prisoner Exchange Agreement - Moscow Lays Out Peace Plan Proposal
Moscow transfers prisoner and offers a peace proposal
The second round of talks between Ukraine and Russia over a potential truce has wrapped up in Istanbul. The session, which lasted around an hour, saw both parties agreeing to a further exchange of prisoners of war. According to Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who led the delegation, Russia has presented a detailed plan outlining its vision for a lasting peace and various steps to achieve a full ceasefire. The Ukrainian side is currently reviewing this plan.
As per Chief Negotiator Vladimir Medinsky, the plan consists of two parts. The first part reveals Moscow’s ideas for achieving long-term peace, while the second part lists numerous proposed steps to achieve a complete ceasefire. There has been no disclosure of specific details about the Russian memorandum as of yet.
Ukraine has agreed to release all prisoners of war aged 18-25 and those severely injured or ill, as well as exchange the bodies of 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers for 6,000 Russian soldiers. A subsequent round of talks with Russia has been suggested by the Ukrainian side, slated for some time between June 20th and 30th. These ongoing discussions are considered crucial for the ongoing negotiation process, according to Umerov.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expecting a comprehensive report regarding these negotiations from Defense Minister Umerov, who visited Vilnius during the time of the latest Istanbul talks. Meanwhile, Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential office, has stressed the importance of returning the approximately 339 children illegally held by Russia. These children are part of a fair and stable peace deal, as per Yermak's statement on Telegram.
Previously, Russia has been accused of forcibly abducting over 19,500 Ukrainian minors from occupied territories, with a reported 160 children residing in Germany with their legal representatives. Despite no concrete results being shared from the meeting thus far, the aim remains to find ways to end the three-year-old war between the two nations. Kyiv had earlier demanded an unconditional 30-day ceasefire as a preliminary step, while Moscow has tied a ceasefire to various conditions, including a halt to Western states' military aid to Ukraine and the discontinuation of mobilization efforts by the government in Kyiv.
With the ongoing disagreements over ceasefire conditions and territorial claims, a peace agreement appears difficult to attain at present. High-ranking representatives from European states, including Germany, were also present in Istanbul and may contribute to the negotiations if necessary. The historic meeting took place at the Ciragan Palace on the Bosphorus, with the world's attention focused on the talks between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations.
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The current peace plan proposal by Russia, discussed during the Istanbul talks with Ukraine, has significant issues that both parties find challenging to overcome. A summary of notable aspects of the Russian peace plan includes:
- Ceasefire Conditions: Russia's proposed ceasefire is contingent on Ukraine withdrawing from the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. Also, it requires the halt of mobilization, demobilization, an end to foreign military aid to Ukraine, and the withdrawal of all foreign military personnel from Ukraine [3][4].
- Territorial Demands: Russia is demanding that Ukraine recognizes its control over claimed regions, something that Ukraine has consistently refused [2][3].
- Phased Restoration of Ties: Russia suggests a phased restoration of diplomatic and economic ties, including gas transit and transport links, and the lifting of existing sanctions [3].
- Prisoner and Child Exchanges: Russia agreed to another prisoner exchange and proposed returning 10 Ukrainian children taken into Russia by July 10, but this is seen as a small fraction of the total number of children believed to be held [2].
- Response to Ukrainian Drone Strikes: Russia's proposal came after a significant drone strike by Ukraine into Russian territory, escalating tensions. Russian officials have threatened severe responses to such actions [1][2].
Stance on Negotiations:- Lack of Compromise: Russian officials have indicated a lack of interest in reaching a compromise peace, with Dmitry Medvedev emphasizing the goal of "complete destruction" of Ukraine's government [1].- Trilateral Meeting: Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov mentioned Vladimir Putin's desire for a trilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, though only after technical details are settled in a future ceasefire agreement [1].
- The current Russian peace plan proposal, discussed during the Istanbul talks with Ukraine, has certain challenging aspects that both parties find difficult to overcome, such as the proposed ceasefire conditions, territorial demands, phased restoration of ties, prisoner and child exchanges, and the response to Ukrainian drone strikes.
- While diplomatic discussions continue in a crucial process for ending the three-year-old conflict, there seems to be a lack of compromise from the Russian side, as indicated by Dmitry Medvedev emphasizing the goal of "complete destruction" of Ukraine's government, and the Kremlin's condition for a trilateral meeting with the US and Ukraine only after technical details are settled in a future ceasefire agreement.
