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| Ukraine and Russia far apart in direct talks, but prisoner swap agreed | Ukraine and Russia far apart in direct talks, but prisoner swap agreed |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Ukrainian and Russian officials met in Turkey for the first talks in more than three years | Ukrainian and Russian officials met in Turkey for the first talks in more than three years |
| More than three years into Europe's deadliest war since 1945, there was a small step forward for democracy on Friday. | More than three years into Europe's deadliest war since 1945, there was a small step forward for democracy on Friday. |
| Delegations from Ukraine and Russia came face-to-face for talks for the first time since March 2022 – one month after Moscow's full-scale invasion of its neighbour. The setting was an Ottoman- era palace on the shores of the Bosphorus in Istanbul. | |
| Pressure and encouragement from Turkey and the US helped get the warring parties there. | Pressure and encouragement from Turkey and the US helped get the warring parties there. |
| There were no handshakes, and half the Ukrainian delegation wore camouflage military fatigues – a reminder that their nation is under attack. | There were no handshakes, and half the Ukrainian delegation wore camouflage military fatigues – a reminder that their nation is under attack. |
| The room was decked with Ukrainian, Turkish and Russian flags – two of each – and a large flower arrangement – a world away from the shattered cities and swollen graveyards of Ukraine. | The room was decked with Ukrainian, Turkish and Russian flags – two of each – and a large flower arrangement – a world away from the shattered cities and swollen graveyards of Ukraine. |
| Turkey's Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, told the delegations there were two paths ahead – one road leading to peace, and the other leading to more death and destruction. | Turkey's Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, told the delegations there were two paths ahead – one road leading to peace, and the other leading to more death and destruction. |
| The talks lasted less than two hours and sharp divisions soon emerged. The Kremlin made "new and unacceptable demands," according to a Ukrainian official. That included insisting Kyiv withdraw its troops from large parts of its own territory, he said, in exchange for a ceasefire. | The talks lasted less than two hours and sharp divisions soon emerged. The Kremlin made "new and unacceptable demands," according to a Ukrainian official. That included insisting Kyiv withdraw its troops from large parts of its own territory, he said, in exchange for a ceasefire. |
| While there was no breakthrough on the crucial issue of a truce – as expected - there is news of one tangible result. | While there was no breakthrough on the crucial issue of a truce – as expected - there is news of one tangible result. |
| Each side will return 1,000 prisoners of war to the other. | Each side will return 1,000 prisoners of war to the other. |
| "This was the very good end to a very difficult day," said Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Serhiy Kyslytsya, and "potentially excellent news for 1,000 Ukrainian families." | |
| The swap will take place soon, said Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, who led his country's delegation. "We know the date," he said, "we're not announcing it just yet." | The swap will take place soon, said Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, who led his country's delegation. "We know the date," he said, "we're not announcing it just yet." |
| He said "the next step" should be a meeting between Zelensky and Putin. | He said "the next step" should be a meeting between Zelensky and Putin. |
| That request was "noted" according to the head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky – a presidential aide. He said the Russian delegation was satisfied with the talks, and ready to continue contacts. | That request was "noted" according to the head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky – a presidential aide. He said the Russian delegation was satisfied with the talks, and ready to continue contacts. |
| He said the Russian delegation was satisfied with the talks, and ready to continue contacts. | He said the Russian delegation was satisfied with the talks, and ready to continue contacts. |
| That was a change from Thursday when Russia's Foreign Ministry called President Zelensky "a clown and a loser." | That was a change from Thursday when Russia's Foreign Ministry called President Zelensky "a clown and a loser." |
| But there are fears – among Ukraine and some of its allies – that Russia is engaging in diplomacy simply to buy time, to distract from international pressure for a ceasefire, and to try to stave off the 18th round of European sanctions. The EU says they are already in the works. | But there are fears – among Ukraine and some of its allies – that Russia is engaging in diplomacy simply to buy time, to distract from international pressure for a ceasefire, and to try to stave off the 18th round of European sanctions. The EU says they are already in the works. |
| And while the two sides have now sat around the table, President Trump has said the only talks that count will be those between him and President Putin. | And while the two sides have now sat around the table, President Trump has said the only talks that count will be those between him and President Putin. |
| He announced on Thursday, mid-flight on Air Force One, that "nothing's going to happen until Putin and I get together." | He announced on Thursday, mid-flight on Air Force One, that "nothing's going to happen until Putin and I get together." |
| It's unclear when that meeting will be. The Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says top-level talks are "certainly needed," but preparing a summit will take time. | It's unclear when that meeting will be. The Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says top-level talks are "certainly needed," but preparing a summit will take time. |
| Whenever those talks happen, President Zelensky is unlikely to be invited. | Whenever those talks happen, President Zelensky is unlikely to be invited. |