Russia and Ukraine return to the bargaining table for a second round of discussions
The round two of talks in Istanbul between Russian and Ukrainian delegations has concluded. As per AFP, the Russian delegation reportedly turned down an offer of an unconditional ceasefire from the Ukrainian side, and they've proposed another session for late June.
Russia's Two-to-Three Day Truce Proposal
Russian negotiators presented a memo detailing Moscow’s conditions for a truce. According to Vladimir Medinsky, the Kremlin's press secretary and leader of the Russian delegation, a "two-to-three day truce in select combat zones" was proposed.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, Heorhii Tykhyi, acknowledged receipt of the document but emphasized the necessity of thorough study before making a decision on the next steps.
Prisoner Exchange discuss in Istanbul
The talks, which began two hours late without explanation, also focused on a prisoner exchange. As stated by AFP, a deal to exchange all wounded or critically ill combatants aged 18-25, as well as the bodies of 6,000 soldiers, has been reached.
Far from Reaching an Agreement
Despite the progress in prisoner exchange talks, it appears the two nations remain far from reaching an overall agreement. International news agencies confirm that the delegations have left Turkey and, as of now, no new round of talks has been scheduled.
Turkey's Summit Proposal
According to Turkish President, the negotiations were not unfruitful. After the talks, he suggested organizing another summit between Putin, Zelensky, and Trump, either in Istanbul or Ankara.
Enrichment Insights
The latest developments reveal that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a new prisoner exchange. However, there seems to be no imminent ceasefire in sight. The talks included discussions on exchanging 6,000 bodies of fallen soldiers and a proposal for a new prisoner swap. The Ukrainian delegation raised the issue of children forcibly relocated to Russia, a matter that Russia disputes.
Regarding a ceasefire, the Russian memorandum proposed a more extensive truce agreement after the exchange of bodies and a two-to-three-day general truce to retrieve bodies from the battlefield. However, Ukraine's demand for an all-encompassing ceasefire was not met, and the negotiations did not lead to a broader agreement on a ceasefire. Key concerns in the peace talks are believed to be resolvable only at the level of leaders, with Ukraine proposing a third meeting later in June. Russia's proposals for a lasting settlement include considerable territorial and political concessions from Ukraine, which have faced resistance.
- Russia and Ukraine have agreed on a prisoner exchange, including the exchange of 6,000 bodies of fallen soldiers and a swap of wounded or critically ill combatants aged 18-25.
- Despite the agreed prisoner exchange, there is currently no imminent ceasefire in sight, as Russia's proposal for a more extensive truce agreement has not been accepted by Ukraine, and the talks did not lead to a broader agreement on a ceasefire.
