Russia & FSU

Russia-Ukraine talks wrap up: Live Updates

The next stage of negotiations has started following Kiev’s drone strikes on Russian civilian and military facilitiesRussia-Ukraine talks wrap up: Live Updates

Russia-Ukraine talks wrap up: Live Updates

Members of delegations attend a second round of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul, Turkey. © Sputnik / Alexander Ryumin

The second round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks have ended in Istanbul, Türkiye. 

Ahead of the talks, Kiev intensified drone attacks on Russian territory, targeting civilian infrastructure, trains, and military airfields, which Moscow claims are attempts to sabotage negotiations.

Just a day before scheduled talks, two bridges collapsed in Russia’s Bryansk and Kursk border regions, leading to at least seven deaths and dozens of injured. The incidents were caused by sabotage, according to Russia’s Investigative Committee.

Later that same day, drones targeted military airfields in Murmansk Region in the country’s north, in Ivanovo and Ryazan regions in western Russia, and in Irkutsk Region in Siberia and Amur Region in the Far East. In response to Kiev’s raids, Russia has launched several retaliatory strikes targeting Ukraine’s defense industry facilities, as well as military assembly points and warehouses.

Some military bloggers and analysts suggest that Kiev may have undertaken such actions to demonstrate to its Western supporters that it still has the means to continue fighting Russia, as well as to intimidate the Russian population.

On Sunday afternoon, Russia’s delegation, led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, arrived in Istanbul. Ukraine’s team for the meeting is headed by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. According to Reuters, the delegation from Kiev will propose a 30-day ceasefire, prisoner exchanges (the “all for all”principle), and the return of Ukrainian children from Russian-held areas, aiming for an eventual meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky.

The previous round of Istanbul talks on May 16, the first since 2022, saw 1,000 prisoners exchanged per side. Both parties agreed to draft ceasefire proposals for today’s discussion. Last week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov clarified that Putin is open to holding high-level direct talks with Kiev. However, he said this should be preceded by tangible progress in the current negotiations.

  • 02 June 2025

    14:47 GMT

    Russia has handed over to the Ukrainian side a detailed memorandum that includes both a proposal on reaching a lasting peace and steps for a “full-fledged ceasefire,” the head of Moscow’s delegation and presidential aide, Vladimir Medinsky, has told journalists after the talks. The ceasefire part includes options that could lead to the truce, he says, adding that the Ukrainian side “has taken it for review.”

  • 14:43 GMT

    Russia has unilaterally committed to hand over 6,000 bodies of Ukrainian servicemen to Kiev, the head of Moscow’s delegation and presidential aide, Vladimir Medinsky, has told journalists after the talks, adding that it will be done next week. “I don’t know how many they will give us,” he says.

  • 14:24 GMT

    Russia and Ukraine have agreed to exchange the corpses of 6,000 soldiers each, according to Ukrainian Defense Minister and delegation head Rustem Umerov.

  • 14:22 GMT

    The Ukrainian delegation has suggested holding the next meeting with Russian negotiators before the end of June, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov has told journalists after the talks. Moscow has not commented on the proposal so far.

  • 14:12 GMT

    Moscow and Kiev have agreed to exchange all severely ill POWs as well as those aged under 25, Ukrainian Defense Minister and delegation head Rustem Umerov has told a press conference, following the second round of the Istanbul talks.

  • 13:56 GMT

    The head of the Ukrainian delegation, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, has confirmed the sides have agreed on a new prisoner exchange, adding that the details will be announced later. He said Kiev prioritizes the release of those injured and ill as well as young people.

  • 13:55 GMT

    Russia and Ukraine have achieved no major breakthroughs during the talks, an unnamed senior Ukrainian official has told the Financial Times, adding, “Just minor steps as we expected.”

  • 13:37 GMT

    Ukraine and Russia have exchanged documents on the settlement process and are laying the ground for a new prisoner exchange, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky told reporters on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Vilnius.

  • 13:37 GMT

    A TASS source has confirmed that Russia and Ukraine are expected to hold a third round of talks at a later and still unspecified date. 

  • 13:36 GMT

    During the talks, the sides discussed prisoner exchanges, with the results to be announced later, a RIA Novosti source has said.

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