Source: The Times UK | Date: May 17, 2025
Ukraine and Russia have held their first direct peace talks since 2022, concluding the discussions in Istanbul with an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners from each side. The talks, which were brief, marked a cautious step toward renewed diplomatic engagement between the two nations.
According to The Times UK (May 17, 2025), the negotiations focused primarily on humanitarian concerns and immediate conflict de-escalation measures. The agreed prisoner exchange is one of the largest since the start of the full-scale war in 2022 and represents a rare point of consensus between the two governments.
While the talks resulted in this mutual agreement, significant political and military differences remain unresolved. Russia reportedly demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from territories it has annexed—an expectation that Ukraine has rejected. Ukraine continues to assert its sovereignty over all internationally recognized territories and has not signaled any intention to concede to Russian territorial claims.
International responses to the talks have been mixed. NATO and European Union leaders expressed skepticism regarding Russia’s approach to the negotiations. Critics pointed out that Russia sent a low-level delegation to the talks, suggesting a possible lack of seriousness in its commitment to a broader peace process.
Despite the limited scope of the discussions, the prisoner swap agreement has been recognized as a constructive development. It provides a humanitarian benefit and may serve as a foundation for more substantive negotiations in the future.
