Second round of peace negotiations between Russia, Ukraine concludes in Istanbul

(MENAFN) The second round of peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine has concluded in Istanbul, Türkiye. The talks took place against a backdrop of rising tensions, as Ukraine ramped up drone attacks on Russian territory in the lead-up to the meeting. These strikes targeted civilian infrastructure, military airfields, and trains, which Moscow claims were intended to disrupt the diplomatic process.

Just one day before the talks, two bridge collapses in Russia’s Bryansk and Kursk regions—blamed on sabotage—resulted in at least seven deaths and numerous injuries. Drone strikes later hit military airfields across Russia, including in Murmansk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, Irkutsk, and Amur regions. In response, Russia launched retaliatory strikes against Ukrainian defense facilities, troop positions, and supply depots.

Some analysts believe Ukraine’s aggressive actions may have been aimed at proving its military capability to Western allies or at unsettling the Russian public ahead of negotiations.

Russia’s delegation, led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, arrived in Istanbul on Sunday. Ukraine’s team was headed by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. According to reports, Kiev proposed a 30-day ceasefire, a large-scale prisoner exchange based on the “all for all” principle, and the return of Ukrainian children from Russian-controlled areas. Ukraine also expressed interest in a potential summit between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky.

The previous round of talks on May 16, the first since 2022, resulted in the exchange of 1,000 prisoners on each side and set the stage for ceasefire proposals at the latest meeting. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that President Putin is open to meeting Zelensky, but only after meaningful progress is made in ongoing negotiations.

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