Talks in Istanbul: No Ceasefire, but Progress on Prisoner Exchanges and Deportee Children

Despite fresh negotiations in Istanbul under Turkish mediation, Russia and Ukraine failed to reach an agreement on a ceasefire. Kyiv proposed a total and unconditional truce, which Moscow flatly rejected, offering instead a limited pause in fighting—restricted to select frontline areas and lasting only two to three days.

Agreement Reached on Prisoners and Fallen Soldiers

Nonetheless, some concrete progress was made. Both delegations agreed to a large-scale exchange of prisoners of war: seriously wounded soldiers and all combatants under the age of 25 will be released under a “all-for-all” format. Additionally, a deal was reached to return 12,000 bodies of fallen soldiers, divided equally between both sides.

The Sensitive Issue of Deported Children

Another contentious topic addressed was the fate of forcibly displaced Ukrainian children. Kyiv submitted to Moscow a list of several hundred children it claims were illegally deported or are being held in Russian-occupied territories. Moscow has stated it will examine each case individually. This issue remains highly sensitive, particularly as Russian President Vladimir Putin is already under an International Criminal Court arrest warrant related to these alleged deportations.

Turkey and the U.S. Push for Diplomatic Momentum

Despite the lack of a comprehensive agreement, Ukraine has proposed holding another round of talks between June 20 and 30. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan welcomed the diplomatic momentum, emphasizing the “critical importance” of U.S. support—particularly through the “commitment” shown by Donald Trump to broker peace. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also renewed his proposal to host a tripartite summit with Presidents Zelensky, Putin, and Trump in Istanbul or Ankara.

Fighting Rages On as Diplomacy Falters

Meanwhile, the war continues on the ground. Ukrainian intelligence reported a coordinated drone strike on multiple Russian airfields—an operation allegedly launched from within Russian territory. The attack reportedly damaged several military aircraft, including strategic bombers. Russia’s defense ministry stated that most of the drones were intercepted in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, near the Ukrainian border.