Peace Deal
The Kremlin has stated that a face-to-face meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky can only take place once a formal agreement has been reached between the two sides.
This statement comes in the wake of the first direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv in over three years, held in Istanbul. While these talks marked a significant diplomatic development, they ended without a ceasefire agreement.
Despite the dialogue, violence on the ground continued. On Saturday, a Russian drone targeted a minibus carrying evacuated civilians in Ukraine’s Sumy region, killing nine people and injuring five.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack and reiterated that Russia was continuing its assault instead of opting for peace. “Russia only retains the opportunity to continue killing,” he said on social media, emphasizing the need for Ukraine’s allies to intensify sanctions on Moscow. According to Zelensky, diplomacy with Russia will not be meaningful without stronger international pressure.
The Istanbul talks did result in one concrete outcome: both countries agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each. Ukraine’s Defence Minister and chief negotiator Rustem Umerov stated that the next logical step would be a summit between Putin and Zelensky. The Kremlin acknowledged the possibility but made clear that such a meeting is contingent on tangible results, particularly a formal agreement.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the prisoner exchange must be completed first, and that both sides need to present detailed proposals for a ceasefire. Russia’s lead negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, echoed the sentiment, indicating that future discussions would focus on outlining a path to peace.
Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, expressed hope that the prisoner exchange would be implemented next week, noting that no major obstacles remain.
However, hostilities persist on the battlefield. In addition to the Sumy attack, Russia reportedly took control of the village of Oleksandropil in Donetsk — one of the war’s most contested areas. Missile and drone attacks also struck the Kherson, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions, resulting in further casualties, including a humanitarian aid worker.
International reactions to the situation have been swift. French President Emmanuel Macron criticized Russian cynicism following the civilian deaths, and expressed confidence that U.S. President Donald Trump would respond strongly. Meanwhile, President Zelensky accused Putin of avoiding the Istanbul talks out of fear, labeling the Russian delegation weak and lacking authority.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the progress made in Istanbul and, during a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, expressed continued interest in diplomatic engagement. Russia, in turn, signaled its willingness to work with Washington.
At a European summit in Albania on Friday, Zelensky warned that if peace talks fail, the international community must deliver a “strong reaction” in the form of new sanctions. Macron confirmed that European nations were coordinating closely with the United States on this front, should Russia continue to reject an unconditional ceasefire.
Moscow’s insistence on territorial concessions, including its claims over Crimea and four additional regions annexed since 2022, remains a major stumbling block. These demands were reportedly rejected by the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul, who called them “unacceptable.”
As the war continues, the path toward a meaningful resolution remains fraught with diplomatic and military challenges.
