Russia and Ukraine have agreed to explain themselves for a truce, will exchange 2000 captives
The negotiation teams of Russia and Ukraine agreed in Istanbul to meet again, but without setting a date, the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced on Friday after the end of the less than two hours of talks.
These were the first direct negotiations between the warring countries of 2022 and Turkey, in addition to their host, brokered in the meeting held at the Dolmabahce Presidential Palace on Friday.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who leads the Turkish delegation of the talks, announced that the two countries have agreed to send their terms for termination of the fire in writing, after which the negotiation teams can be seen again.
As a measure of confidence, they will also exchange 1,000 prisoners of war, Fidan reported. The leader of the Ukrainian delegation Rustem Musrov said that a date for the exchange was also set, but it would not be announced.
The leader of the Russian negotiating team Vladimir Medinsky said after negotiation that Moscow was pleased with the results and was ready to continue them.
Ukrainians are outraged
A source from the Ukrainian President’s office confirmed to Kyiv Independent that the Moscow delegation has urged Ukraine to withdraw from Donetsk, Luganska, Zaporozha and Kherson regions, although it does not completely control none of them, such as the conditions for termination of fire.
Moscow declared them annexed in 2022, but its acts were not internationally recognized.
Reuters quoted its source from the Ukrainian negotiating team, according to which Russian demands are « detached from reality and far exceeding everything that has been discussed so far. »
Sklyov told reporters that the first priority in Istanbul’s talks on Friday was to ensure the release of prisoners of war, and the second to end the fire, adding that the next step should be conversations at the level of leaders.
According to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk « Russians in Istanbul, de facto terminated the negotiations and refused to stop the fire. »
Trump on the phone
Since the end of the talks, Zelenski and several senior European leaders have had a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump, the Ukrainian leader at Telegram said.
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Kir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk joined Zelenski during the conversation.
US does not expect a breakthrough of negotiations in Istanbul
| « Ukraine is ready to take as soon as possible steps for real peace and it is important for the world to take strong positions, » Zelenski wrote. |
« If the Russians refuse a full and unconditional stop of fire and killing, there must be strong sanctions. The pressure on Russia must be maintained until Russia is ready to end the war, » added the Ukrainian president from Tirana, where he meets with the leaders of over 40 countries in the European political community.
On Sunday, Putin proposed « direct and unconditional » negotiations to be held in Istanbul and announced the Russian delegation at almost midnight on the eve of the negotiations.
Russians are happy
Medinsky said Russia and Ukraine have agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war in the coming days, which is one of the largest such exchanges since the beginning of the conflict.
« In general, we are pleased with the result and are ready to continue contacts. In the coming days there will be a large -scale exchange of prisoners of war thousand per thousand, » Medinsky said.
He added that the Ukrainian side had requested direct negotiations between the leaders of the countries of Volodimir Zelenski and Vladimir Putin.
| « We took into account this request, » assured Medinsky, who is Putin’s advisor. |
Previously, he stated that a meeting Putin – Trump « was essential to make progress on Ukraine and other issues, but it requires preparation and should produce results when it happens. »
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described as « important » contacts between President Putin and Trump.
« We, of course, agree with this thesis. The meaning of this cannot be overestimated, » Peskov said.
Trump and Putin have been talking on the phone several times, but haven’t seen each other since Trump returned to the White House.
« We agree that each country will present its vision for a possible future termination of the fire and will expose it in detail. Once such a vision is presented, we believe that it would be appropriate, as well as negotiated, to continue our negotiations, » said the head of the Russian delegation.
Sanctions against Putin and Trump’s Response
Meanwhile, in Tirana, leaders of 44 countries united in the European political community have begun discussions on how to intensify pressure on Russia so as to get Putin to sit on the table of negotiations.
EU intends to make Putin to negotiate with more sanctions
European Commission President Ursula von der Layen has announced that new sanctions are already underway, which will first include restrictions on the work of gas pipelines – Nord Stream, which are not licensed to work in the EU, as well as new sanctions affecting the financial sector.
The EU and the UK want to try to convince the US and their other G7 partners to reduce the maximum price at which Russian oil can be sold at third prices. In December 2022, the ceiling was placed at $ 60 per barrel, but since then prices have fallen and the measure has not been particularly effective.
The European Political Community will also discuss decisions about the Gaza Humanitarian Crisis, as well as the likelihood of a trade war caused by US customs policy under President Donald Trump’s administration.
/s3/static.nrc.nl/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/17002955/ANP-318970535.jpg "Scenarist of Turkish Fruit and Soldier van Oranje Gerard Soeteman passed away")