What did Russia and Ukraine agree on at the Istanbul talks?

The first direct talks between Russia and Ukraine since 2022 took place on May 16 at the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul. The meeting, which was attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, lasted about two hours.

No specific agreement on peace or a ceasefire was reached at the meeting. However, the sides took a historic step on the humanitarian issue - the exchange of prisoners of war.

“1000 for 1000” - prisoner exchange imminent

According to the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umerov, and the head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, the sides have agreed on a large-scale prisoner exchange in the “1000 for 1000” format. This exchange is expected to take place in the coming days.

This agreement is considered a serious diplomatic achievement for both sides. Because it is being implemented on a humanitarian basis, regardless of the situation on the front.

Peace issue – next stage

The parties agreed to present their views on the future ceasefire and return to negotiations later. The Ukrainian side put forward a proposal to hold a personal meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moscow noted that this proposal was “considered.”

According to Medinsky, the Russian delegation was “generally satisfied” with the results of the meeting and is ready to continue the dialogue.

Turkey is a diplomatic bridge

The fact that the negotiations were held with the participation of the Turkish government once again confirmed the role of this country as a neutral mediator in international politics. Hakan Fidan’s active participation in the meeting demonstrated Turkey’s readiness to work with both sides.

The Zamin.uz editorial office will continue to closely monitor the next stage of the Istanbul talks, as well as the process of the expected prisoner exchange.

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