ALBAWABA- The third round of direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine concluded in Istanbul on Wednesday, with cautious optimism emerging from both sides and renewed calls for a ceasefire.
Hosted by Türkiye, the negotiations focused on prisoner exchanges, humanitarian concerns, and the prospects of ending the ongoing war.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan expressed hope for a positive outcome and reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to facilitating peace.
“We must end this bloody war as soon as possible,” he said, emphasizing that Türkiye has exerted intense diplomatic efforts under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s leadership since the outbreak of the conflict. Fidan noted that the ultimate goal remains a sustainable ceasefire and the beginning of result-oriented dialogue between the two countries.
Ukrainian delegation head Rustem Umerov stated that Kyiv is prepared for an immediate ceasefire and urged Russia to demonstrate a constructive approach.
He announced that the Russian delegation had agreed to Ukraine’s demand to release all detainees held for more than three years and proposed a leadership-level summit by the end of August. Umerov also noted expectations for “further progress” on prisoner of war (POW) exchanges.
Meanwhile, the head of the Russian delegation confirmed that both sides had finalized an agreement on the exchange of the bodies of deceased soldiers, signaling a small but significant step in confidence-building.
The talks in Istanbul mark a continuation of Türkiye’s efforts to mediate between the two warring parties and revive diplomacy in a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and destabilized the broader region.
