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Delegations from Russia and Ukraine met in Istanbul on Monday for a new round of peace negotiations, but the talks concluded in under 90 minutes with no significant breakthroughs. The meeting, mediated by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, highlighted the vast chasm that remains between the two nations' positions for ending the war that began in February 2022.
During the brief session, Russia formally presented a punitive set of terms that underscored Moscow's uncompromising stance. According to a memorandum reported by Russian media, the Kremlin is demanding that Kyiv cede significant new portions of territory currently under Russian control. Additionally, Moscow insists on strict limitations on the size and capabilities of Ukraine's armed forces as a precondition for any peace settlement. These demands reflect Russia's long-standing war aims and were presented just a day after both sides engaged in some of the most intense aerial attacks of the conflict.
While Ukraine had shared its own peace formula with Moscow prior to the meeting, the Russian terms were only revealed during the talks. Despite the fundamental disagreements, the discussion did yield a minor accord. Officials from both countries confirmed a tentative agreement to exchange some prisoners and the bodies of fallen soldiers, offering a small humanitarian step forward amidst the diplomatic impasse.
This was only the second round of direct negotiations since dialogue resumed two weeks ago, with both sides exchanging their visions of what a potential peace settlement could look like. Turkey has continued its efforts to mediate, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressing a desire to host a broader summit including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and U.S. President Donald Trump. However, with Kyiv and Moscow's core demands remaining mutually exclusive, the prospect of a near-term diplomatic resolution appears remote, and the conflict continues with no end in sight.
