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Ukraine and Russia Just Held New Talks in Istanbul. Here’s What Happened
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Ukrainian and Russian delegations convened at the Çırağan Palace in Istanbul for the second round of peace negotiations on June 2.
The meeting took place with the mediation of the Turkish side, as representatives from both countries outlined key points of agreement reached during the talks.
Return of Ukrainian children
During negotiations in Istanbul on June 2, the Ukrainian delegation formally presented the Russian side with a list of Ukrainian children whom Russia must return.
He stressed that the return of Ukrainian children is a fundamental condition for building a just and lasting peace, as well as a key element of trust.
Body exchange: 6,000 for 6,000
Ukraine and Russia have agreed to a large-scale exchange of the bodies of fallen soldiers. The deal, described as a “6,000 for 6,000” exchange, marks a significant step in humanitarian coordination.
POWs aged 18–25 to be exchanged
Both sides have agreed to carry out a comprehensive exchange of all service members under the age of 18-25.
Exchange of severely wounded and critically ill POWs
An agreement has also been reached to exchange all severely wounded and critically ill prisoners of war, in line with international humanitarian norms.
Proposal for leader-level meeting
A key condition put forward by the Ukrainian side is a direct meeting between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia. According to the proposal, the talks could take place with the involvement of other heads of state, including the President of the United States.
The suggested timeframe for the summit is between June 20 and June 30.
Ceasefire proposal under consideration
According to Umerov, Russia needs an additional week to respond to the ceasefire proposal.
Earlier, eleven more Ukrainian children had been returned from Russian-occupied territory as part of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative.
Among them is a girl whose mother and brother, both defenders of Azovstal, spent over three years in Russian captivity. Throughout their imprisonment, the mother had no certainty she would ever see her children again. She was reunited with her son during a prisoner exchange, and today, she was finally able to hold her daughter in her arms.
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
