ISTANBUL — In a cautiously optimistic turn of events, Russia and Ukraine held their first direct peace talks in over two years at Istanbul’s historic Dolmabahce Palace, signaling a possible thaw in the prolonged and devastating conflict. The high-stakes meeting, lasting less than two hours, concluded without a ceasefire agreement but yielded a major humanitarian breakthrough: both sides agreed to a mutual prisoner swap involving 1,000 detainees each — the largest such exchange since the war began in February 2022.
The discussions marked the first face-to-face diplomatic engagement since March 2022 and were brokered with support from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who described the meeting as “a critical step toward regional stability.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, speaking after the talks, reiterated Kyiv’s demand for an immediate 30-day ceasefire. He reportedly held urgent calls with U.S. President Donald Trump and European Union leaders, pushing for tighter sanctions against Moscow should it continue to reject the proposed truce. “Ukraine is prepared to take immediate steps toward meaningful peace, but it requires a unified international response to Russian aggression,” Zelenskiy said in a televised address.
Moscow’s delegation, led by presidential advisor Vladimir Medinsky, confirmed a willingness to continue dialogue but expressed skepticism about a short-term ceasefire. Russian officials raised concerns that Ukraine might exploit the pause in hostilities to regroup militarily and bolster its Western alliances. Medinsky emphasized that any truce would need to be underpinned by verifiable and enforceable terms.
Notably absent from the talks were Presidents Putin and Trump, whose lack of direct involvement has drawn criticism from observers who argue that high-level engagement is crucial for any substantive breakthrough. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, in a statement, urged both parties to build on the momentum of the prisoner exchange and resume negotiations with “greater urgency and commitment.”
Meanwhile, Western intelligence sources have reported a recent uptick in drone strikes and missile activity along the eastern front, casting further doubt on the viability of an immediate ceasefire. NATO has also increased surveillance efforts in the Black Sea region, citing the potential for escalation.
As the humanitarian toll of the conflict continues to rise — with more than 15 million people displaced and infrastructure across eastern Ukraine in ruins — the international community remains watchful but wary. The next round of negotiations is expected to be scheduled in Geneva, although no official date has been confirmed.