Delegations from Russia and Ukraine met in Turkey on Monday for their second round of peace talks in just over two weeks. However, the discussions were brief, lasting just over an hour, and did not lead to significant progress in resolving the ongoing conflict that has lasted for three years.
The meeting took place shortly after both sides launched extensive drone attacks against each other. Ukraine targeted Russian air bases, while Russia retaliated with its largest drone assault yet on Ukraine. At the talks, Russia presented a memo outlining its conditions for ending hostilities, which Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated would take a week for officials in Kyiv to review. Ukraine has suggested scheduling more talks between June 20 and June 30.
Although the memo was not released to the public, the delegations did agree to exchange 6,000 bodies of soldiers killed in action and to establish a commission for swapping severely wounded troops. This was a notable step amid ongoing violence, which included a Ukrainian drone attack that reportedly damaged or destroyed over 40 warplanes at Russian air bases located far from the front lines.
U.S.-led efforts to broker a ceasefire have so far yielded little success. Ukraine has shown willingness to accept a truce, but Russia has largely dismissed these proposals. Recent statements from officials on both sides suggest they remain far apart on key issues needed to halt the fighting.
The previous talks held on May 16 in the same Turkish city marked the first direct negotiations since the early days of Russia’s invasion in 2022. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan highlighted the importance of the latest meeting, especially given the violent backdrop of the recent attacks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking from Lithuania, indicated that if the Istanbul meeting did not yield results, stronger sanctions against Russia would be necessary. He emphasized that without pressure, Russia would continue to stall negotiations.
As the conflict rages on, fierce fighting persists along the 1,000-kilometer front line. Russian forces shelled the southern Kherson region, resulting in casualties, while missile strikes around Zaporizhzhia also led to fatalities. Meanwhile, both sides continue to launch drone attacks, with Russia claiming to have shot down a significant number of Ukrainian drones.
The situation remains tense as both nations grapple with military strategies and the prospect of peace seems distant.