Russia and Ukraine Hold Direct Talks for First Time in Over 3 Years

Published: Friday, May 16, 2025 at 3:07 pm

Russia and Ukraine Hold First Direct Talks in Years, Prisoner Swap Agreed

In a significant but ultimately inconclusive development, Russia and Ukraine held their first direct talks in over three years on Friday in Istanbul. The meeting, lasting less than two hours, saw delegations led by Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Russian aide Vladimir Medinsky. While no major breakthroughs towards peace were achieved, the two sides did agree to a substantial prisoner swap, exchanging 1,000 prisoners of war on each side.

The talks, initiated by Russia, saw each delegation agreeing to present detailed ceasefire plans. However, sources suggest Russia is not yet prepared to make significant decisions to end the ongoing conflict. Notably, neither Russian President Vladimir Putin nor Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended the meeting, despite suggestions of direct talks between leaders.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who encouraged Zelenskyy to meet with Putin, expressed hope for a resolution, stating, "we gotta stop the killing." He also indicated his intention to meet with Putin "as soon as we can set it up."

Adding another layer to the diplomatic efforts, Pope Leo XIV has offered to mediate peace talks, offering the Vatican as a potential venue for direct negotiations. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, a top Vatican diplomat, expressed disappointment at the lack of progress, highlighting the difficult situation and the need for a peaceful solution. The conflict, which began over three years ago, continues to be a source of global concern.

Keywords: Russia, Ukraine, talks, Istanbul, prisoner swap, ceasefire, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Donald Trump, Pope Leo XIV, peace talks, conflict, war, diplomacy, negotiation, prisoner exchange, Rustem Umerov, Vladimir Medinsky, Vatican.

Full Story