Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
The second round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine ended without a serious breakthrough, and only the agreement between the warring parties to exchange more prisoners of war.
Ukrainian negotiators said Russia again rejected the “unconditional ceasefire” – the key demand of Kiev and its allies in Europe and the United States.
The Russian team stated that it offered two or three days of the truce “in certain areas” of the huge front line, but did not provide more information.
In Monday’s conversations, which were held in the Turkish city of Istanbul and lasted just over an hour, both sides agreed to exchange all patients and severe wounded prisoners of war, as well as those under the age of 25.
The expectations were low before the negotiations began, and both sides remained deeply divided into how to end the war that was raging since Russia in February 2022.
Currently, Moscow controls about 20% of the Ukrainian territory, including the southern Crimea Peninsula, which it joined in 2014.
Speaking at a briefing after the meeting, the Minister of Defense of the Ukrainian Rustem Merov, who headed the Kiev negotiating team, said Ukraine insists on a “complete and unconditional ceasefire” for at least 30 days to “finish the killings now.”
He said that Ukraine handed over to Russia its proposals “a few days ago” – but Moscow could not do the same thing, only by submitting its plan for Istanbul negotiations.
The Deputy Foreign Minister Ukraine Sergius Kislitz said Russia had dismissed an unconditional ceasefire.
The negotiators of Ukraine stated that by the end of June they were expecting Russia’s reactions to Ukrainian proposals, emphasizing the need to prepare for direct negotiations between the President of Ukraine Valodimir Zelensky and Russian Vladimir Putin.
Speaking soon at a separate briefing on the news, the head of the Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky confirmed that all the sick and severe wounded prisoners of war and those under 25 will be exchanged. It has not been given when it would happen.
Medinsky also stated that Russia would hand over 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers to Kiev next week.
In the first round of direct peace talks that took place on May 16, Ukraine and Russia could not overcome their differences, how to end the war, agreeing only to change 1000 prisoners of war.
President Zelensky and his European allies repeatedly accuse Russia of intentionally delaying any significant negotiations to seize more Ukrainian territory.
US President Donald Trump, who is pushing for a rapid settlement, has still tightened to hit Russia with tough sanctions.
In a rare reproach last month, Trump called Putin “absolutely crazy” After the largest Russian drones and missile attacks on Ukraine. In response, the Kremlin said Trump showed signs of “emotional overload”.
