Ukrainian and Russian delegations concluded a second round of peace talks in Istanbul on Sunday, reaching a significant agreement on a new prisoner of war (POW) exchange, but failing to make progress toward a broader ceasefire agreement.

The discussions, mediated by Turkish officials, follow a previous round of negotiations held on May 16, which also resulted in a large-scale POW swap but did not yield any breakthroughs on ending the ongoing conflict.

As part of the new agreement, both sides committed to a substantial exchange involving at least 1,000 individuals each. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the number could rise to 1,200 on each side, with the swap expected to include severely injured POWs, young adults aged 18 to 25, and potentially imprisoned journalists and political detainees held in Russia.

In a humanitarian gesture, Russia also pledged to return the bodies of 6,000 fallen Ukrainian soldiers and officers. However, President Zelensky expressed caution, stating that only 15% of the bodies had been identified so far. “We had instances when they returned bodies that later were identified as their own,” he noted during a press briefing.

Additionally, Russia proposed a localized two- to three-day ceasefire in certain front-line areas to facilitate the recovery of bodies. No agreement was reached on a broader ceasefire across the front.

According to diplomatic sources, Ukraine has presented a formal peace proposal during talks in Istanbul, outlining several key demands aimed at ending the conflict. The proposal calls for an immediate and complete ceasefire, a comprehensive “all-for-all” prisoner exchange, the return of Ukrainian children allegedly abducted by Russian forces, and the release of all civilians currently held in Russian captivity.

Ukraine’s proposal also called for international guarantees to prevent future acts of aggression by Russia. Furthermore, it reaffirmed Ukraine’s intention to pursue EU membership and eventual accession to NATO, contingent upon consensus within the alliance.

On the issue of sanctions, Kyiv expressed readiness for the gradual lifting of some international restrictions against Moscow. However, it proposed a mechanism for their reinstatement should Russia violate future agreements. Ukraine also reiterated its demand that frozen Russian assets be redirected toward the reconstruction of Ukraine and the payment of reparations.

Despite the lack of a ceasefire agreement, observers noted that the tone of the talks suggested a willingness to maintain diplomatic channels. The next round of discussions is expected in the coming weeks, though no official date has been announced.

Türkiye continues to play a key mediating role in the ongoing negotiations, aiming to facilitate steps toward de-escalation amid a war that has entered its third year. (ILKHA)