Russia, Ukraine Agree Prisoner Exchange Amid Stalled Peace Talks

During the second round of peace talks in Istanbul, Russia presented Ukraine with a detailed peace proposal demanding Ukraine's withdrawal from several eastern regions and Crimea, recognition of these territories as part of Russia, and Ukraine's commitment to neutrality, including a ban on foreign troops on its soil. The memorandum also calls for limits on the size of Ukraine's military, the dissolution of nationalist armed groups, recognition of Russian as an official language, and the resumption of diplomatic and economic ties, including Russian gas transit through Ukraine. Russia offered localized, temporary ceasefires to recover bodies of fallen soldiers and proposed a large prisoner exchange, but Ukraine has rejected the broader terms as tantamount to surrender. While Ukraine prepared its own peace roadmap and agreed to the humanitarian gestures, no ceasefire breakthrough was reached, and Kyiv insists that only a direct meeting between Presidents Zelenskyy and Putin could resolve ongoing disputes. The talks also included discussions about children allegedly separated by the conflict, with Russia denying abduction claims. Turkish President Erdogan expressed hope for a future trilateral meeting including U.S. President Trump to advance negotiations.