Russia and Ukraine held a brief 40-minute meeting in Istanbul on Wednesday, discussing further prisoner exchanges but failing to make progress on a ceasefire or summit between their presidents.
Ukraine's chief delegate Rustem Umerov, confirmed some humanitarian progress, such as plans for additional prisoners of war (POW) swaps and the return of deported children, but said Moscow remained resistant to a broader cessation of hostilities.
Umerov added, "By agreeing to this proposal, Russia can clearly demonstrate its constructive approach."
Ukraine proposed a meeting between Presidents Volodymr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin by the end of August, aligning with U.S. President Donald Trump's 50-day ultimatum for a peace deal.
However, Russia’s chief delegate Vladimir Medinsky said a leaders’ summit should only happen to finalize an agreement, not to renegotiate terms.
While Ukraine pushes for a long-term ceasefire, Russia suggested short 24–48-hour halts to recover bodies.
They agreed to exchange 1,200 prisoners of war from each side.
Medinsky claimed Russia is working to return 339 Ukrainian children and offered to hand over 3,000 Ukrainian corpses, denying abduction allegations.
"Some of the children have already been returned back to Ukraine. Work is under way on the rest. If their legal parents, close relatives, representatives are found, these children will immediately return home," Medinsky said.
Despite hopes, the Kremlin downplayed expectations before the meeting, and the session ended as the shortest yet—underscoring the gulf between the two sides.
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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed that Russian forces are suffering battlefield losses nearly three times higher than those of Ukraine, even as Moscow maintains a significant numerical advantage in manpower and artillery.
French President Emmanuel Macron has formally acknowledged that France waged a war in Cameroon during the country’s struggle for independence - marking the first time Paris has used the term “war” for its actions in that period.
President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order allocating funds from Azerbaijan’s 2025 state budget to support humanitarian aid for Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Wednesday before joining a German-hosted virtual conference with U.S. President Donald Trump, NATO and European leaders, two days ahead of Trump’s first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin since 2021.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
A resumption of Iraq’s Kurdish oil exports is not expected in the near term, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, despite an announcement by Iraq’s federal government a day earlier stating that shipments would resume immediately.
'Superman' continued to dominate the summer box office, pulling in another $57.25 million in its second weekend, as theatres welcome a wave of blockbuster competition following a challenging few years for the film industry.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed that Russian forces are suffering battlefield losses nearly three times higher than those of Ukraine, even as Moscow maintains a significant numerical advantage in manpower and artillery.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Wednesday before joining a German-hosted virtual conference with U.S. President Donald Trump, NATO and European leaders, two days ahead of Trump’s first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin since 2021.
Starlink has officially started operations in Kazakhstan, making satellite internet available to the public for the first time. Citizens can now legally purchase, use, and register Starlink terminals in line with national regulations.
One of the world’s leading companies in the ski industry, Pas Grau International Management from Andorra, is coming to Kazakhstan. The company has registered a subsidiary in the Astana International Financial Centre as part of a large project to build a resort in the Kok Zhailau area.
Firefighters are tackling multiple wildfires across Greece, with blazes threatening towns near western city of Patras and on the islands of Chios and Zakynthos, forcing thousands of residents and tourists to evacuate from their homes.
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