The Kremlin says peace negotiations will not proceed until a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange is completed. A list of cease-fire conditions is forthcoming.
The Kremlin said on Saturday that further negotiations with Ukraine will only take place after the completion of a large prisoner exchange, agreed to during a recent meeting in Istanbul, where both delegations held their first direct peace talks in over three years.
“The task now is to implement what was agreed yesterday — namely, the exchange of 1,000 prisoners on each side,” said Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir V. Putin.
Peskov also stated that Moscow would soon deliver a list of cease-fire conditions to Kyiv. While the specifics of the list remain undisclosed, Peskov emphasized that negotiations must remain confidential: “Perhaps it’s best not to announce the exact contents, as the talks are ongoing and should take place behind closed doors.”
He added that a meeting between President Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could take place “as a result of the work of both delegations, once certain agreements are reached.”
The Russian delegation was led by Vladimir Medinsky, who told reporters after the Istanbul talks that Moscow was “generally satisfied with the outcome” and willing to continue diplomatic engagement. However, his message to Russian media focused on intensifying the military campaign, vowing to seize more Ukrainian territory, including the northern regions of Sumy and Kharkiv, where Russian forces have launched fresh offensives.
Medinsky reiterated the Kremlin’s demand that Ukrainian forces withdraw from the four partially occupied regions Russia claims to have annexed—Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia—as a condition for lasting peace.
In addition to territorial claims, Russia has long insisted that Ukraine renounce its bid to join NATO, undergo demilitarization, protect Russian-speaking minorities, lift sanctions imposed since the 2022 invasion, and replace the Zelensky government, which Moscow considers illegitimate.
Friday’s meeting in Istanbul yielded only one concrete agreement: a mutual exchange of 1,000 prisoners of war. If executed, it would be one of the largest such swaps since the war began.
The high-level talks, reportedly held under pressure from former U.S. President Donald J. Trump, come amid renewed international calls for an end to the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II.
Keep Independent Journalism Alive
In a world flooded with noise, independent journalism is more vital than ever. We work hard to bring you clear, accurate, and unbiased international news — free from corporate or political influence.If you believe in the power of honest reporting, please consider making a donation. Every contribution, big or small, helps us stay independent and keep the world informed.
Support us via PayPalYour support makes a difference.
