Russia, Ukraine discuss prisoner exchange during Istanbul talks
3 Min Read
Russia and Ukraine held detailed discussions on a potential prisoner exchange during talks in Istanbul, though no date has been set for a follow-up meeting.
-
Members of the Russian delegation arrive at the Ciragan Palace for Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, June 2, 2025 (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
Russia and Ukraine engaged in focused talks on prisoner exchanges during a meeting held in Istanbul, according to a source from the Russian delegation who spoke to RIA Novosti on Monday.
The source stated that "Russia and Ukraine have discussed prisoner exchanges in detail, and the results will be officially announced," without providing further specifics on the outcome or timeframe.
The discussions mark a continued, albeit cautious, string of communication between the two sides amid the ongoing conflict.
Despite progress in the prisoner swap dialogue, no agreement has been reached on scheduling future meetings between the delegations, a Turkish diplomatic source confirmed. When asked whether additional talks in Turkey were planned, the source responded, "Not at the moment."
Earlier in the day, Russian and Ukrainian delegations held their meeting in Istanbul, which reportedly lasted over an hour. It is worth noting that Turkey continues to serve as a key venue for diplomatic engagement between Moscow and Kiev, having hosted multiple rounds of talks since the early stages of the conflict.
While the current meeting yielded no schedule for future sessions, it underscored Turkey’s ongoing role in facilitating communication between the two sides. Moreover, official announcements are soon expected regarding the results of the prisoner exchange discussions.
A boiling pot amid talks
It is worth mentioning that today's negotiations followed a series of significant military developments.
On Sunday, a Russian missile strike on a Ukrainian army training area resulted in the deaths of at least 12 soldiers and injuries to over 60 others, Kiev said.
Ukrainian ground forces commander Mykhailo Drapaty resigned later in the day, taking full responsibility for the deadly strike; an incident highlighting growing concerns over the military’s failure to protect its troops during training.
In the Sumy region, Russian forces claimed control of the settlement of Oleksiivka, intensifying concerns over the potential encirclement of Ukrainian troops in the area.
Earlier, two explosions in Russia’s Bryansk and Kursk regions near the Ukrainian border killed seven and injured dozens, according to Russian officials, who said the authorities were treating the incidents as "acts of terrorism."
Moreover, Russia claims to have captured multiple settlements in recent weeks and has reportedly amassed more than 50,000 troops along the border, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Additionally, Ukraine reported that Russia launched a record 472 drones and seven missiles overnight, marking the largest drone assault since the war began.
