Russia, Ukraine Reach Deal on POW Swap and Bodies Handover/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Ukraine and Russia resumed peace talks in Turkey with no breakthroughs. Discussions followed massive drone attacks by both sides, highlighting ongoing escalations. Kyiv remains defiant, demanding tougher international sanctions if diplomacy fails. Russia and Ukraine said they had agreed at peace talks on Monday to exchange more prisoners of war and return the bodies of 12,000 dead soldiers. The warring sides met for barely an hour in the Turkish city of Istanbul, for only the second such round of negotiations since March 2022.
Peace Talks Stalemate Quick Looks
- Ukraine and Russia held new peace talks in Turkey
- Discussions lasted an hour, ending without progress
- Both sides launched large-scale drone attacks before talks
- Ukraine’s strike damaged 40+ Russian warplanes across vast territory
- Russia launched record 472 drones at Ukraine the same day
- Sides agreed to swap 6,000 soldier bodies and wounded
- Ukraine demands return of deported children, names 339 cases
- Kremlin says child returns possible if families are located
- U.S. and Turkish leaders urge ceasefire, but differences remain
- Zelenskyy calls for new sanctions if Russia “plays games”
- Trump expresses frustration at Putin over stalled diplomacy
Deep Look: Peace Eludes Ukraine and Russia After Historic Strikes
ISTANBUL – June 2, 2025 — Hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough in the grinding three-year war between Russia and Ukraine dimmed further Monday, as peace talks in Istanbul ended with no tangible results. Delegations from both countries met for just over an hour, one day after exchanging devastating drone attacks that demonstrated the conflict’s escalating scope and complexity.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed Kyiv had received a Russian memo proposing terms for ending hostilities. However, the content was not made public. Ukraine requested a week to analyze the document and suggested follow-up talks later in June.
No ceasefire was agreed upon. Still, the two sides did reach modest humanitarian agreements: exchanging the bodies of 6,000 fallen soldiers and forming a commission to repatriate seriously wounded fighters.
Escalation Overshadows Diplomacy
The diplomatic effort followed one of the war’s most consequential 24-hour periods. Ukraine launched a precision drone assault on Russian airbases, striking targets across three time zones — including Siberia, the Far East, and the Arctic — damaging or destroying at least 40 warplanes. Ukrainian intelligence said the operation took over 18 months to plan.
“This was a historic and strategic blow to Russia’s long-range capabilities,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who praised the attack as a “brilliant operation.”
In response, Russia launched 472 drones, the most in a single day since its full-scale invasion began in 2022. Ukraine’s air force reported shooting down 52 of 80 drones targeting its territory overnight.
Ceasefire Talks Face Deep Division
Efforts by the United States and Turkey to mediate a long-term truce appear increasingly fragile. Although Ukraine has indicated willingness to accept a temporary ceasefire, the Kremlin has rebuffed the current proposal.
“The fact that the two sides met again despite the intense attacks is progress in itself,” said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Zelenskyy warned that if Moscow treats peace talks as a stalling tactic, “a new level of pressure, new sanctions” from the global community is needed. “Without pressure, Putin will just keep playing games with everyone who wants this war to end,” he said.
Child Deportations and War Crimes in Focus
Ukraine also raised the issue of deported children, handing over a list of 339 names to Russia during the Istanbul meeting. Andriy Yermak, head of Zelenskyy’s office, emphasized that their return is non-negotiable.
The International Criminal Court has an active arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin and child rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova for their alleged roles in the deportations.
Putin’s aide and lead negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said children will be returned if guardians can be located, dismissing Ukraine’s appeal as political theater.
Strategic Damage, Minimal Cost
The scale and reach of Ukraine’s drone assault shocked military analysts. Many drones were launched from disguised trucks parked within Russian territory, offering air defenses little time to react.
Military experts like Phillips O’Brien of the University of St. Andrews said the strikes dealt a “major blow” to Russia’s strategic airpower, while Edward Lucas of CEPA called it a “military and strategic game-changer.”
“This was an operation that changed the calculus. Minimal cost, maximum impact,” said Lucas.
Domestic Pressures and Global Ripple Effects
Inside Russia, state-run media downplayed the drone damage, spending less than two minutes on it before pivoting to show Russian drones targeting Ukraine. On the Ukrainian side, Zelenskyy used the attack’s success to bolster diplomatic momentum, stating it would force Russia closer to negotiation.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who campaigned on quickly ending the war, appeared increasingly frustrated. “Putin has gone absolutely CRAZY!” he wrote last week after another barrage of Russian missiles hit Kyiv.
Meanwhile, tensions contributed to economic volatility in Asia. Oil prices spiked and regional stock markets dipped amid fears of broader destabilization.
Violence Persists on All Fronts
On the battlefield, intense fighting continues across a 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line. Russian forces shelled Ukraine’s Kherson region Monday, killing three and injuring 19, including two children. In Zaporizhzhia, another missile strike killed five and injured nine.
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed it downed 162 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions and Crimea, while Ukraine reported intercepting the majority of the latest drone attacks on its cities.
Conclusion: A Fragile Pause in a Prolonged War
Despite the historic nature of Ukraine’s strategic strikes and a second round of direct diplomacy, real peace remains elusive. The next round of talks could be weeks away — if they happen at all. In the meantime, the war grinds on, with civilians, economies, and geopolitics hanging in the balance.
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