ISTANBUL, June 2: Delegations from Russia and Ukraine held brief peace talks in Istanbul on Monday, lasting just over an hour.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that both sides exchanged documents through Turkish intermediaries and agreed to prepare a new prisoner of war exchange, along with a swap of 6,000 fallen soldiers’ bodies.
Despite the discussions, hopes for a breakthrough in the ongoing three-year war remained low.
The talks followed a dramatic escalation over the weekend.
Ukraine launched a surprise drone offensive that damaged or destroyed over 40 Russian warplanes at air bases located across the Arctic, Siberia, and Far East—more than 7,000 kilometers from Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials described the attack as a major blow to Russian airpower and a strategic victory.
In response, Russia launched its largest drone assault yet, with 472 drones targeting Ukrainian territory.
At the Istanbul meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan chaired the session, emphasizing global attention on the ceasefire talks.
However, key disagreements persist. While Ukraine has accepted calls for a ceasefire, Russia has not, and experts believe Moscow aims to prolong the war to gain more battlefield leverage.
The Ukrainian and Russian delegations, led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Vladimir Medinsky respectively, met across a U-shaped table, with Turkish officials mediating.
The Institute for the Study of War noted that Russia appears to be using negotiations to delay and regroup.
President Trump, who has been vocal about ending the conflict, recently criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing him as “absolutely CRAZY” following sustained drone and missile attacks on Kyiv.
Ukraine views its airbase strikes as a turning point, with muted coverage in Russian media indicating discomfort.
Zelenskyy hopes such blows will pressure the Kremlin into serious diplomacy, stating that if talks fail, stronger international sanctions are necessary.
The frontline remains volatile. Russian shelling in Ukraine’s Kherson region killed three and injured 19, while strikes near Zaporizhzhia killed five.
Russia claimed to have shot down 162 Ukrainian drones overnight, including over annexed Crimea, while Ukraine reported downing 52 of 80 drones launched by Russia.
As both military and diplomatic efforts continue, the outcome of the latest peace talks remains uncertain, with both nations entrenched in their positions and global observers watching closely. (AP)
