The second round of direct peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine concluded in Istanbul without achieving a ceasefire agreement, although both sides agreed to exchange prisoners and return fallen soldiers’ bodies. The talks, held on June 3, lasted over an hour but failed to produce significant progress toward ending the ongoing conflict.
Ukraine accused Russia of rejecting its proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire. Russia, instead, suggested a limited 2–3-day ceasefire in certain regions and demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from four partially occupied southeastern territories.
Despite the stalemate on broader peace terms, both sides agreed to exchange sick, wounded, and young prisoners of war under 25 years old. They also pledged to return the remains of 12,000 soldiers killed during the war.
While the session marked another step in ongoing diplomatic efforts since Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion, the core demands from both parties—territorial withdrawal and unconditional ceasefire—remain at an impasse.
