Russia and Ukraine again fail to agree ceasefire but commit to prisoner swap
ISTANBUL — A second round of direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have ended without a major breakthrough, and only a deal to swap more prisoners of war.
Ukrainian negotiators said Russia had again rejected an "unconditional ceasefire" — a key demand by Kyiv and its allies in Europe and the US — but the two committed to return the bodies of 12,000 soldiers.
The Russian team said it had proposed a two- or three-day truce "in certain areas" of the vast front line, but gave no further details.
At Monday's talks, which were held in the Turkish city of Istanbul and lasted just over an hour, the two sides did agree to exchange all sick and heavily wounded prisoners of war, as well those aged under 25.
Expectations were low even before the talks started, with both sides remaining deeply divided on how to end a war that has been raging since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including the southern Crimea peninsula it annexed in 2014.Speaking at a briefing after the meeting, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who led Kyiv's negotiating team, said Ukraine was insisting on a "full and and unconditional ceasefire" for at least 30 days on land, at sea and in the air to "end the killings now".He said Ukraine had handed over its truce proposals to Russia "a few days ago" — but Moscow failed to do the same, presenting its plan only at the talks in Istanbul.The texts of both the Russian and Ukrainian ceasefire proposals have not officially been made public.However, Russian state-run media published what they say are key points of Moscow's position after the talks concluded. These include unchanged demands of a Ukrainian military withdrawal from its four partly occupied regions in the south-east, and the demobilisation of its soldiers.Russia also demands international recognition of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, as well as the annexed Crimea.Other conditions include a ban on Ukraine's membership in any military alliances, a limit on the size of the Ukrainian army, Russian as an official language, and the lifting of international sanctions on Russia.Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsia said that Russia had rejected the unconditional ceasefire.Ukraine also handed over a list of hundreds of children Kyiv says have been forcefully taken to Russia.Ukraine's negotiators said they were expecting Russia's response to their proposals by the end of June, stressing the need to prepare for direct talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia's Vladimir Putin.But so far there is no sign of any progress towards a meeting between the two presidents.Speaking at a separate news briefing, Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky confirmed all sick and heavily wounded prisoners of war, as well as those younger than 25, would be exchanged. No timeframe was given as to when this would happen.Medinsky also said that Russia would hand over the bodies of 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers to Kyiv next week. Zelensky also said later on Monday that Ukraine would return the bodies of 6,000 Russian soldiers, but did not specify when this would occur.Rejecting an unconditional ceasefire, Russia prefers to talk about "lasting peace", repeating its previous tough demands which Ukraine and its allies say are tantamount to Kyiv's de facto capitulation.Zelensky, who was attending a summit in Vilnius, Lithuania on Monday, said that "while there are no meaningful signals from Russia to end the war, it is important to strengthen our defense".He also called for more pressure through sanctions on Russia.In the first round of direct peace talks, held on 16 May, Ukraine and Russia failed to bridge their differences on how to end the war, agreeing only to swap 1,000 prisoners of war each.Zelensky and his European allies have repeatedly accused Russia of deliberately delaying any meaningful negotiations to seize more Ukrainian territory.US President Donald Trump, who has been pushing for a quick settlement, has so far delayed hitting Russia with tougher sanctions.In a rare rebuke last month, Trump called Putin "absolutely crazy" following a massive drone and missile attacks on Ukraine. In response, the Kremlin said Trump was showing signs of "emotional overload". — BBC
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leaders
a day ago
- Leaders
Moscow Dismisses Imminent Putin-Zelensky-Trump Summit
The Kremlin announced on Tuesday that a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, and US President Donald Trump seems 'unlikely' in the near future. This statement followed the White House's indication that it remained 'open' to the idea of such a meeting. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov addressed reporters, stating that the chances of a meeting occurring soon are minimal. He emphasized that any summit could only take place after Russian and Ukrainian negotiators reach a significant 'agreement.' Complexity of Peace Negotiations The Kremlin described the ongoing efforts to settle the war in Ukraine as extraordinarily complex. Peskov noted, 'The [peace] settlement theme is extremely complex; it consists of a large number of nuances.' He mentioned that it would be misguided to expect any imminent decisions. He added that the Kremlin is currently awaiting During peace talks in Turkey on Monday, Russia informed Ukraine that it would only agree to cease hostilities if Kyiv concedes substantial territory. Additionally, Russia demands that Ukraine accept limitations on the size of its military, conditions that Ukraine has consistently rejected. Despite previously dismissing these proposals, Ukraine indicated that it would take time before formally responding to Russia's demands. Peskov reiterated that Moscow is patiently waiting for Ukraine's reaction. He also confirmed Moscow would honor agreements reached during the Istanbul talks regarding prisoner exchanges and the return of deceased soldiers. Progress and Future Steps Peskov stated that the peace settlement theme consists of many nuances and requires careful consideration, mentioning that certain agreements reached in Istanbul are important and will be implemented. Peskov said, 'Of course, it would be wrong to expect any immediate solutions and breakthroughs here, but work is under way.' The work on the peace process will continue, but immediate solutions are unlikely. However, Peskov declined to comment on Russia's readiness to compromise, stating that negotiations had to be conducted behind closed doors, emphasizing the importance of confidentiality in the negotiation process. The Kremlin's comments followed peace talks in Turkey where Russia demanded significant concessions from Ukraine. In summary, the Kremlin has dampened hopes for an imminent meeting between Putin, Zelensky, and Trump. The peace process remains complex and requires patience and careful consideration. While negotiators reached certain agreements, participants do not expect immediate solutions, and negotiators will continue discussions behind closed doors. Short link : Post Views: 106
Saudi Gazette
a day ago
- Saudi Gazette
Ukraine strikes bridge connecting Russia to Crimea with underwater explosives
KYIV — Ukraine said on Tuesday that it had hit the bridge connecting Russia and the occupied Crimean Peninsula with explosives planted underwater, in its third attack on the vital supply line for Moscow's forces since the full-scale war began in 2022. Ukraine's security service, the SBU, said on Telegram that its agents had mined the piers of the road and rail Crimean Bridge, also called the Kerch Bridge, and detonated the first explosive at 4.44 a.m. Tuesday. The whole operation took several months, it added. The agency said it had used 1,100 kilograms of explosives which 'severely damaged' the underwater pillars supporting the bridge. Russian officials did not immediately respond to Ukraine's claims. Traffic on the bridge has been temporarily suspended, the bridge operator announced on its official Telegram account. Although the scale of the damage was not immediately clear, Tuesday's attack is the latest example of the SBU's attempts to blindside Moscow and demonstrate that there are costs to continuing its war. On Sunday, the SBU launched an audacious drone attack on Moscow's fleet of nuclear-capable bombers, stationed at various Russian airfields thousands of miles away from Ukraine. Vasul Malyuk, the head of the SBU, said that attack caused an estimated $7 billion in damage and had struck 34% of Russia's strategic cruise missile carriers, which have been used to pummel Ukrainian cities throughout the war. The SBU said Malyuk had also overseen Tuesday's attack. 'God loves the Trinity, and the SBU always sees things through to the end and never does the same thing twice. We previously struck the Crimean Bridge twice, in 2022 and 2023. So today we continued this tradition, this time underwater,' Malyuk said. He stressed that the bridge is a 'completely legitimate target,' since Russia uses it 'as a logistical artery to supply its troops' fighting in mainland Ukraine. As well as serving as a vital supply line for Moscow's troops, the Crimean Bridge also has huge symbolic value for President Vladimir Putin, embodying his objective to bind the Ukrainian peninsula to Russia. Built after Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, Putin opened the bridge in 2018. The project cost around $3.7 billion. Tuesday's attack marks the third time that Ukraine has targeted the bridge since Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022. In October of that year, a fuel truck exploded on the bridge, engulfing a part of it in flames. In July 2023, the SBU said it had blown up a part of the bridge using an experimental sea drone. Both times, Russia moved quickly to repair the damaged sections. As well as suspending traffic on the bridge, Russian authorities temporarily halted maritime traffic in the waters off Sevastopol, the largest city in Crimea, according to state media RIA Novosti. — CNN
Saudi Gazette
a day ago
- Saudi Gazette
Al-Qaeda linked group says it carried out huge attack on Mali's army
BAMAKO — An al-Qaeda-linked group says it carried out a major attack on the Malian town of Boulikessi and the seizure of an army base there. More than 30 soldiers were killed in Sunday's attack, according to sources quoted by the news agency Reuters, however that figure has not been confirmed by the authorities. On Monday the same group, Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), said it targeted the military in the historic city of Timbuktu, with residents reporting hearing gunfire and explosions. Mali's army said in a statement late on Monday that it had repelled an "infiltration attempt by terrorist fighters" in Timbuktu, "neutralizing" 14 militants and arresting 31 suspects. It added that weapons, vehicles and other items were seized, but did not name the group responsible for the attack. The army said search operations across Timbuktu were ongoing. In an earlier statement, the army said it "reacted vigorously" to Sunday's attack, before "withdrawing" — suggesting a tactical retreat."Many men fought, some until their last breath, to defend the Malian nation," the statement unnamed local source told Reuters that JNIM had left many casualties and "cleared the camp".Unverified video footage showed dozens of militants storming the base, including one which captured them stepping on bodies, according to Monday's attack, JNIM said its fighters had attacked a military airport and Russian and security sources told the AFP news agency they were "fighting back", but that the militants were "everywhere in the city".A local official said the attackers had arrived "with a vehicle packed with explosives" that detonated close to the army a UN World Heritage Site, was captured by Islamist militants in 2012 before they were driven out, but has once more been under siege in recent attacks, the latest sign of collapsing security in Mali and the wider Sahel region, came after the United States Africa Command warned about growing efforts by various different Islamist militant groups which operate in the Sahel to gain access to West Africa's a press conference on Friday, the commander of United States Africa Command (Africom), Gen Michael Langley, described recent attacks in Nigeria, the wider Sahel, and the Lake Chad Basin as deeply troubling, warning that the groups' access to the coast would significantly boost their capacity for smuggling and arms is thought that more than 400 soldiers have been killed by militants since the beginning of last month in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, Reuters reports. — BBC
