The second round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Turkey once again failed to produce a ceasefire agreement, leaving major questions about the future of the ongoing conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated his demand that Russian President Vladimir Putin must not be rewarded for his actions in the war, stating that any form of recompense would only validate his aggression.
Despite an apparent memorandum of terms given to Ukraine by the Russian delegation, Moscow refused to agree to the unconditional ceasefire previously proposed by the United States and already accepted by Kyiv. The talks, which lasted less than three hours, failed to produce any meaningful results. However, a significant prisoner exchange agreement was reached, which is expected to secure the release of sick, seriously injured, and underage prisoners from occupied territories. Ukraine also handed over a list of several hundred children who were illegally deported by Russia, but it remains unclear whether Russia has committed to returning them, as many have reportedly been