Russia, Ukraine Fail Again To Reach Ceasefire Deal

A second round of direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine concluded without a major breakthrough, with negotiators only agreeing to a prisoner swap, Jaroslav Lukiv and Vitaly Shevchenko reported for BBC News.

Moscow currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine, including Crimea, annexed in 2014. I Photo: Володимир Зеленський Facebook

Ukrainian officials said Russia had once again rejected Kyiv’s call for an “unconditional ceasefire”—a key demand supported by the U.S. and European allies.

The only agreements reached included the return of the bodies of 12,000 soldiers and a pledge to exchange sick and severely wounded prisoners, as well as those under 25 years old.

Russia reportedly offered a temporary two- to three-day truce “in certain areas” of the front line but did not elaborate.

The most talks in Istanbul lasted just over an hour, and expectations had been low, with both sides still deeply divided on how to end the war that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Moscow currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine, including Crimea, annexed in 2014.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, who led the delegation, reiterated Kyiv’s demand for a 30-day full and unconditional ceasefire across land, sea, and air. “We need to end the killings now,” he said at a press briefing after the meeting.