Russian and Ukrainian delegations met in Istanbul on May 16, 2025, for direct negotiations, resulting in an agreement for a prisoner exchange. The exchange is planned in a "1000 for 1000" format, as announced by Vladimir Medinsky and Rustem Umerov, heads of the Russian and Ukrainian delegations respectively.
The Istanbul talks marked the first direct engagement between Russia and Ukraine since early 2022. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan urged both sides to agree to a ceasefire as soon as possible.
Despite the agreement on the prisoner exchange, broader progress toward a ceasefire remains uncertain. A Ukrainian source indicated that Moscow's demands included territorial concessions, which Kyiv deemed unrealistic. Ukraine has proposed an immediate ceasefire and a meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky.
The talks occurred after a meeting between Turkish, U.S., and Ukrainian officials. While Zelensky declined to attend the talks, Umerov led the Ukrainian delegation, and Medinsky headed the Russian delegation.