Ukrainian and Russian negotiators agreed in Istanbul to resume talks aimed at a ceasefire and to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war.
Ukrainian and Russian delegations agreed in principle on Friday to hold further negotiations focused on achieving a ceasefire, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who facilitated the talks in Istanbul.
Speaking after the meeting, Fidan noted that both sides expressed readiness to continue diplomatic efforts and would submit their respective ceasefire conditions in writing. The Istanbul talks marked the first direct contact between the two nations' officials in more than three years.
As a confidence-building measure, the parties also agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each - one of the largest such exchanges since the conflict began in February 2022.
Fidan emphasized Türkiye’s commitment to supporting dialogue and de-escalation efforts, calling the developments “a step in the right direction.” While no immediate breakthrough was announced, the agreement to resume talks and initiate a large-scale POW exchange was seen as a cautiously positive signal.
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