Russia, Ukraine Agree on June POW Swap Amid Stalemate

Russia and Ukraine concluded peace talks in Istanbul without agreeing to a ceasefire, as Moscow insisted on Ukraine's neutrality and surrender of annexed territories—conditions Kyiv rejects. Both sides have agreed to a large-scale prisoner exchange between June 7 and 9, potentially involving up to 1,200 detainees each, prioritizing young and wounded individuals. Russia will also unilaterally return over 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers' bodies, with both countries emphasizing proper identification. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy proposed a ceasefire as a prerequisite for any direct meeting with Russian President Putin and called for international mediation, but Moscow remains focused on military objectives. Ukraine has received an invitation to a key NATO summit in late June as it seeks to bolster Western support. The ongoing talks show humanitarian progress but no breakthrough on a comprehensive peace agreement.