Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans for a third round of peace talks with Ukraine, signaling a potential shift in the ongoing conflict. The talks, which may be held in Istanbul, are expected to address the stalled ceasefire discussions between the two nations. Despite previous meetings, a comprehensive agreement remains elusive, with Russia advocating for limited truces and Ukraine insisting on a 30-day ceasefire. The negotiations have led to prisoner exchanges but no major breakthroughs in terms of a lasting peace agreement. The situation remains tense, with both sides continuing to engage in military operations while seeking a diplomatic resolution.
Under the previous rounds of talks, the two sides have managed to make some progress in prisoner exchanges. A significant 1,000-for-1,000 exchange took place in late May, followed by a follow-up deal for up to 1,200 prisoners from each side. However, these efforts have not led to a resolution of the broader ceasefire issue, with Russia rejecting Ukraine’s proposal for a 30-day ceasefire and instead proposing a temporary 2–3-day truce in limited areas to retrieve the bodies of fallen soldiers.
The latest peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, which took place on June 2 in Istanbul, followed an earlier meeting on May 16. Despite Ukraine’s insistence on a 30-day ceasefire, Russia has repeatedly rejected the offer, proposing only a temporary 2–3-day truce in limited areas to retrieve the bodies of fallen soldiers. The situation remains in a stalemate, with no agreement on a comprehensive ceasefire. The talks have, however, led to some notable prisoner exchanges.
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said during a press briefing on June 26 that it was Ukraine’s goal to organize a direct meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Putin during the next round of negotiations. In previous rounds, Putin had failed to show in-person, sending lower-level officials to the meeting instead, despite Zelensky’s willingness for in-person talks and pressure from the United States.
Turkey, which has remained one of the few countries with open lines to both Kyiv and Moscow, is working to organize a meeting between Zelensky and Putin, with U.S. President Donald Trump potentially joining the talks. Putin said on June 27 that it was "quite possible" that a meeting between himself and the U.S. president could take place. "We will be happy to prepare it," he briefly added.
Zelensky and Trump met during the NATO summit on June 25, where the two leaders discussed battlefield developments, Kyiv’s need for additional air defense systems, and the potential for co-production of drones. Zelensky has previously voiced openness to a trilateral meeting. On May 27, he told public broadcaster Suspilne that he was ready to sit down with both Trump and Putin.