Russia-Ukraine peace talks finish in lower than 2 hours with deal to swap POWs

The primary direct Russia-Ukraine peace talks for the reason that early weeks of Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine ended after lower than two hours on Friday, and whereas either side agreed on a big prisoner swap, they clearly remained far aside on key situations for ending the preventing.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned he mentioned the outcomes of the talks with US President Donald Trump and the leaders of France, Germany, the UK and Poland.

In a publish on X from a European management assembly in Albania, he urged “robust sanctions” in opposition to Moscow if it rejects “a full and unconditional ceasefire and an finish to killings”.

On the transient Istanbul talks, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to trade 1,000 prisoners of warfare every, in accordance with the heads of each delegations, in what could be their greatest such swap.

Each side additionally mentioned a ceasefire and a gathering between their heads of state, in accordance with chief Ukrainian delegate, defence minister Rustem Umerov.

Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who headed Moscow’s delegation, mentioned either side agreed to supply one another with detailed ceasefire proposals and Ukraine requested the heads of state assembly, which Russia took into consideration.

Throughout the talks, a senior Ukrainian official mentioned Russia launched new, “unacceptable calls for” to withdraw Ukrainian forces from large swaths of territory. The official, who was not authorised to make official statements, spoke to The Related Press on situation of anonymity. The proposal had not been beforehand mentioned, the official mentioned.

The Ukrainian facet reiterated it remained centered on reaching actual progress — an instantaneous ceasefire and a pathway to substantive diplomacy — “similar to the US, European companions, and different nations proposed,” the official added.

The 2 sides sat reverse one another at a U-shaped desk within the Dolmabahce Palace however remained far aside of their situations for ending the warfare.https://x.com/ianbremmer/standing/1923411715774902701