Istanbul, Turkey (EFE).- Ukrainian and Russian delegations met briefly in Istanbul on Tuesday, for another round of negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing war, but the talks concluded in less than an hour with no progress, officials from both sides confirmed.
The meeting, held in Istanbul’s Dolmabahçe Palace, lasted less than 40 minutes.
Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne reported that the discussions ended with no plans for a follow-up session.
“The main outcome: agreement on the exchange of not only military prisoners but also civilians,” a Russian official told state news agency TASS.
The swift conclusion reflects the deep divisions that persist between Kyiv and Moscow, despite ongoing efforts from international actors to mediate.
Both sides had downplayed expectations before the meeting, citing minimal chances of reaching substantial agreements.
Ukraine suggests four-way presidential summit
After the meeting, Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov proposed a summit involving the presidents of Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, and the United States.
“We want to hold a meeting before the end of August between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and United States President Donald Trump,” Umerov said at a press conference in Istanbul.
The timing aligns with a 50-day deadline mentioned by Donald Trump, who publicly urged Moscow to accept a ceasefire or face additional US sanctions.
Ukraine reiterated its call for an immediate ceasefire, especially to stop strikes on civilian infrastructure.
“The ceasefire must be real and must include a complete halt to attacks on civilian and critical infrastructure,” Umerov stressed.
Umerov, recently appointed Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, also emphasized the importance of ongoing prisoner exchanges.
He said Moscow agreed to prioritize those held for more than three years, particularly severely wounded or young detainees.
Russia pushes for new working groups
Russian lead negotiator Vladimir Medinsky proposed forming three joint working groups to continue talks virtually.
“To save time and taxpayer money, we suggested creating political, military, and humanitarian working groups composed of both delegations,” Medinsky told reporters.
He acknowledged that positions remain “quite distant,” especially on key political issues.
Moscow has demanded that Ukraine accept neutrality, reduce its military, and recognize the annexation of occupied territories, conditions Kyiv firmly rejects.
Russia also called for temporary ceasefires of 24 to 48 hours in specific frontline areas to allow medical teams to evacuate the wounded and retrieve bodies.
“The risk to medics is too high. Every life matters,” Medinsky said.
However, he criticized Ukraine for allegedly holding civilians from Russia’s Kursk region, urging their return and suggesting they could be included in future exchanges.
“If these people were relocated for their safety, bring them back. If they are hostages, then let’s call it what it is,” he said.
Despite the lack of concrete progress, both sides expressed cautious willingness to continue dialogue, potentially through the proposed online working groups. EFE
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