• Russia and Ukraine will swap 1,000 prisoners of war each, their largest exchange since the conflict began.
• The talks in Istanbul were the first direct discussions in over three years.
• Despite the agreement on the prisoner swap, no ceasefire deal has been reached.

Russia and Ukraine have reached an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each, marking the largest such swap since the conflict began in 2022. This agreement was achieved after direct peace talks in Istanbul, which lasted less than two hours across various negotiations. Vladimir Medinsky, the head of the Russian delegation, expressed that both sides would present proposals for a ceasefire, but significant differences remain, particularly regarding Russia's new demands for land concessions from Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have voiced frustrations over these demands, claiming they complicate the peace process, according to India Times, Reuters, and Al Jazeera.

During the meeting, both sides addressed the potential for a future ceasefire but left the terms vague. Medinsky indicated that Russia was satisfied with the discussions and expressed a willingness to continue dialogue with Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had requested a higher-level meeting with President Putin, but only mid-level negotiators were sent by Moscow, which Ukraine interpreted as a lack of seriousness regarding the negotiations. "We have taken note of this request," Medinsky mentioned, highlighting the disconnect between the two leaders, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.

U.S. President Donald Trump's involvement has added an international dimension, with calls for a ceasefire and renewed talks complicating the situation. Trump urged both sides to consider a 30-day ceasefire, but existing hostilities persist, as noted by officials from both nations. Zelenskyy reiterated the need for an "immediate and honest ceasefire" to establish a basis for future negotiations, even while facing overwhelming military challenges on the battlefield. Both Russia and Ukraine seem to have divergent views on what terms would constitute a suitable ceasefire, leading to ongoing tensions, according to Reuters and India Times.