Russia, Ukraine Agree to Major Prisoner Exchange

Russia and Ukraine held a second round of direct peace talks in Istanbul, agreeing to a large-scale exchange of prisoners and the remains of approximately 6,000 soldiers, alongside the creation of permanent medical commissions for regular exchanges of seriously wounded troops. Despite these humanitarian agreements, the negotiations failed to achieve significant progress toward a broader ceasefire, with Russia rejecting Ukraine's call for an unconditional truce and instead proposing a limited two-to-three-day ceasefire in specified frontline sectors for the recovery of war dead. The talks took place amid escalating hostilities, including Ukraine's drone attacks on Russian airbases that reportedly damaged or destroyed dozens of Russian bombers and Russia's largest drone assault on Ukraine since the war began. Both sides exchanged documents outlining their negotiating positions, but fundamental disagreements persisted. Ukraine also handed Russia a list of children it claims were abducted, demanding their return. Humanitarian measures such as prisoner swaps remain viable, but a comprehensive peace deal remains out of reach.