Istanbul: Russia on Monday presented Ukraine with a draft peace proposal during the second round of talks held in Istanbul, according to the head of the Russian delegation. The proposal, which aims to address ongoing conflict, was revealed by Vladimir Medinsky, who detailed its dual focus on establishing a full ceasefire and achieving lasting peace.
According to Anadolu Agency, Medinsky explained that the proposal is comprehensive, covering various scenarios to attain its objectives. He indicated that the Ukrainian delegation had received the document for further examination. Additionally, Medinsky confirmed Russia's unilateral decision to return the bodies of 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers next week, ensuring all have been identified.
Russia has proposed a temporary ceasefire lasting two to three days in specific frontline areas, aimed at allowing commanders to retrieve the bodies of fallen soldiers. Both Moscow and Kyiv have reportedly agreed to this localized truce for retrieval purposes. In response, Ukraine has confirmed a limited ceasefire in designated zones to facilitate the recovery process and is preparing a broader proposal to formalize such pauses in combat.
The talks also resulted in a significant agreement on a prisoner exchange, anticipated to be the largest since the conflict's inception, involving more than 1,000 individuals. Both sides have committed to an 'all-for-all' exchange of sick and seriously wounded prisoners, including fighters under 25 years of age. A joint commission will oversee these exchanges, aiming to bypass political interference.
As part of humanitarian measures, Medinsky announced that Moscow offered a short-term 'concrete ceasefire' in certain frontline sections, with the Ukrainian military reviewing the proposal. A temporary truce was also agreed upon to enable both sides to collect their dead.
Addressing concerns over children separated by the conflict, Medinsky claimed that 'not a single child was abducted' by Russia and dismissed Ukraine's concerns as 'a show for compassionate Europeans.' He noted that Kyiv provided a list of 339 children affected by the conflict and emphasized Russia's efforts to reunite separated families once parents or legal guardians are located.
The discussions, conducted entirely in Russian and lasting just over an hour, marked the second round of negotiations hosted by Trkiye since renewed diplomatic engagement began earlier this year. The meeting follows a previous session on May 16 at Dolmabahce and comes amid broader efforts for humanitarian relief and conflict de-escalation.