Russia, Ukraine Agree on New Prisoner Exchange

Russian and Ukrainian delegations met in Istanbul on Monday for a second round of peace talks, chaired by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, amid escalating conflict highlighted by a major Ukrainian drone offensive on Russian military airbases. The negotiations lasted just over an hour and failed to yield significant progress toward a ceasefire, with both sides remaining divided on core issues. Despite this, the talks resulted in an agreement for a large-scale prisoner exchange, specifically focusing on the severely wounded and young detainees, building on a previous swap completed in May. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy maintained that Russia should not be rewarded for its aggression, while draft peace proposals were exchanged without mutual acceptance. The tense atmosphere reflected ongoing cross-border attacks and the devastating impact of modern drone warfare. The conflict, now in its fourth year, continues to resist diplomatic resolution despite international pressure and Turkey's mediating efforts.