After more than three years of Europe’s deadliest war since 1945, Ukrainian and Russian officials met in Turkey for direct talks, marking the first face-to-face discussions since March 2022. Despite sharp divisions and “new and unacceptable demands” from the Kremlin, including Kyiv’s withdrawal of troops from large parts of its territory in exchange for a ceasefire, a tangible result emerged: a prisoner swap agreement.
Prisoner Swap Details
Each side will return 1,000 prisoners of war to the other, with Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Serhiy Kyslytsya calling it “potentially excellent news for 1,000 Ukrainian families.” Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov stated, “We know the date, we’re not announcing it just yet.” This development follows previous prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine, facilitated by the United Arab Emirates, including a recent swap involving 190 prisoners of war in July 2024 and another involving 372 soldiers in March 2025.
Next Steps
Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov suggested that the “next step” should be a meeting between President Zelensky and President Putin, which was “noted” by the head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said preparing a summit would take time. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has expressed that meaningful talks will only happen between him and President Putin, stating, “nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together.”
International Reactions
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan encouraged both sides, saying, “There are two paths ahead – one road leading to peace, and the other leading to more death and destruction.” Despite cautious optimism, fears remain that Russia might be using diplomacy to buy time and distract from international pressure for a ceasefire.