• Russia and Ukraine meet for the second round of peace talks in Istanbul with little hope for breakthrough.
• The two sides agreed on a significant exchange of prisoners and the return of fallen soldiers.
• Both nations remain divided over crucial issues like ceasefires and territorial claims.
• Turkey emphasizes its role as a mediator amid ongoing conflict escalation.
• Ukrainian officials demand a response from Russia regarding their proposals for peace.

On June 2, delegations from Russia and Ukraine convened in Istanbul for their second round of peace talks since March. Expectations were low for significant progress, especially following an intensive weekend of military actions, including Ukraine’s drone strikes on Russian airbases, reportedly damaging a third of Moscow's strategic bombers. The meeting lasted just over an hour and ended with agreements primarily focused on humanitarian exchanges, specifically a new prisoner swap, according to AA and TRT.

During the meeting at the historical Ciragan Palace, both sides agreed to a prisoner swap focusing on severely wounded soldiers and those under the age of 25, along with returning the remains of 6,000 soldiers from each side. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized the "constructive atmosphere" of the talks, though significant issues like a comprehensive ceasefire remained unaddressed, as noted in reports from BBC and The Hill.

Ukraine's demands for an unconditional ceasefire were outright rejected by Russia, which instead proposed a temporary truce in selected areas to recover dead bodies from the battlefield. Ukrainian officials expressed frustration over Russia's lack of responsiveness to their proposal for a structured peace, pointing out that the lack of dialogue increases the risk of prolonged conflict. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated they demand Russia’s response to their peace proposal, highlighting concerns about the ongoing nature of the conflict as reported by AA and Al Jazeera.

The Turkish government continues to position itself as a mediator in these diplomatic efforts while urging both sides to keep the negotiation table active, which has been a consistent theme in Turkey's foreign policy approach. Despite the limited outcomes, the continuation of talks signifies a need for further dialogue amidst the backdrop of rising hostilities, according to TRT and AA.