No new direct Russia-Ukraine peace talks scheduled, Kremlin says

Published: Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 12:06 pm

No New Peace Talks Scheduled Between Russia and Ukraine, Kremlin Says

The prospect of immediate peace talks between Russia and Ukraine appears dim, according to a recent statement from the Kremlin. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that no further direct talks have been scheduled, just days after a face-to-face meeting in Istanbul last Friday, the first such engagement since 2022.

While the Istanbul talks yielded an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each, a significant humanitarian step, no other major breakthroughs were achieved. The prisoner swap, described as a "laborious process," is reportedly proceeding at a rapid pace. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed preparations for the exchange are underway, calling it perhaps the only tangible outcome of the Turkey meeting.

The news comes amidst ongoing pressure from the U.S. and Europe for a ceasefire and settlement, which has so far yielded little progress. Meanwhile, reports suggest Russia is preparing a summer offensive to gain more Ukrainian territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated a willingness to work on a memorandum outlining a potential peace treaty framework, but has effectively rejected a 30-day ceasefire proposal accepted by Ukraine. He has linked a ceasefire to a halt in Ukraine's mobilization and a freeze on Western arms shipments.

The conflict continues to rage, with both sides exchanging drone attacks. Russia's Defense Ministry reported shooting down 105 Ukrainian drones overnight, including those targeting the Moscow region, causing flight delays and internet disruptions. Ukraine, in turn, reported a barrage of 128 Russian drones, damaging infrastructure and homes in the Dnipropetrovsk region and impacting a school in Kyiv.

BNN's Perspective: The lack of scheduled talks is disheartening, especially given the immense human cost of this war. While the prisoner exchange is a positive development, the absence of further dialogue suggests a prolonged conflict. The conditions Putin is setting for a ceasefire seem designed to maintain Russia's advantage, making a negotiated settlement challenging. The international community must continue to push for a diplomatic solution, but the path to peace remains uncertain.

Keywords: Russia-Ukraine war, peace talks, ceasefire, Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, prisoner exchange, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, drone attacks, Moscow, Kyiv, Ukraine, conflict, Istanbul talks, military, diplomacy, negotiations.

Full Story