Russia, Ukraine agree to largest prisoner swap but fail to reach truce

Russia’s top negotiator Vladimir Medinsky has said Moscow and Kiev agreed on the largest-ever prisoner swap between the two warring neighbor countries.

Russia’s delegation to the second round of talks in Istanbul, Turkey, was led by Medinsky, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The negotiators from Kiev were headed by Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

Medinsky told reporters on Monday after the second round of talks in Istanbul that the severely wounded and sick will be exchanged on an "all for all" basis.

He also said all the prisoners-of-war (POWs), who are under the age of 25, will be exchanged.

“The overall cap for the exchange will be at least 1,000 people from each side. Possibly more,” he added, further noting that the figures are being finalized.

The second round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks ended without a major breakthrough after about an hour of negotiations with both sides apparently standing firm on their positions regarding territorial disputes and sovereignty over regions in eastern Ukraine that have joined Russia.

Russia, Ukraine trade drone, missile attacks ahead of negotiations

Russia and Ukraine have launched drone and missile barrages against each other ahead of Turkey negotiations.

Kiev forces had intensified drone attacks on Russian territory ahead of the Istanbul talks, targeting civilian infrastructure, trains, and military airfields, which Moscow claims are attempts to sabotage negotiations.

In an act of sabotage just a day before scheduled talks, two bridges collapsed in Russia’s Bryansk and Kursk border regions, leading to at least seven deaths and dozens of injured. Russia’s Investigative Committee determined that the incidents were caused by sabotage.

On Sunday, drones targeted military airfields in Murmansk Region in the country’s north, in Ivanovo and Ryazan regions in western Russia, and in Irkutsk Region in Siberia and Amur Region in the Far East.

In response to Kiev’s raids, Russia has launched several retaliatory strikes targeting Ukraine’s defense industry facilities, as well as military assembly points and warehouses.

Observers said Kiev may have undertaken such actions to demonstrate to its Western supporters that it still has the means to continue fighting Russia, as well as to intimidate the Russian population.

Trump-Putin rift widens over Ukraine amid diplomatic failure to end war

Trump voices disapproval of Russian actions after attack on Ukraine.

The first round of Istanbul talks on May 16 saw the release of another 1,000 prisoners per side.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump had promised to get a deal to end the fighting in Ukraine in one day. However, more than four months since his second-term inauguration that goal looks as far away as ever.

His special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, claimed in an interview with ABC News last month that the American leader was pushing both sides to reach a peace agreement.

"Trump... is working to stop this war and end the killing," Kellogg said.

However, other sources suggest that Trump is equally prepared to "just back away" and allow the fighting to continue.

Russia's military campaign in eastern Ukraine started in February 2022, triggered by NATO forces eastward encroachment on Russian territory.

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