Ukraine’s allies call Russian demands unacceptable after first talks in years

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President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the media after his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday.

Much has happened this week, but what failed to transpire is the more telling.

The first direct talks between Ukraine and Russia should have heralded a new era of diplomacy towards solving Europe’s largest conflict since World War II. Instead, their context, brevity and limited outcomeprovided skeptics with more reasons to doubt Moscow wants peace.

The three conclusions – a prisoner swap, further talks about their presidents meeting, and both sides composing their vision of a future ceasefire – sound like progress.

But prisoner swaps occur regularly, Ukraine has already said it wants an immediate and unconditional ceasefire on air sea and land, and had already offered direct talks, between President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Russia rejected those two ideas, but Friday said it would again consider them.

Diplomacy has travelled a long distance this week to essentially return to zero – back where it started on Saturday. Then, in Kyiv, Ukraine, France, Germany, the UK and Poland demanded an unconditional ceasefire for a month, and published a picture of the five countries’ leaders on the phone to President Trump. They trumpeted his backing for the truce, but also what France called “massive sanctions” if Russia rejected the demand.

The symmetry of the demands and the images was remarkable. In the past week, Trump has performed stunning diplo-gymnastics. Putin shrugged off the demands for a truce and suggested direct talks in Istanbul. Zelensky said he would meet Putin there, and Trump offered to be an intermediary. Putin rejected all bar a junior meeting. And then Trump deflated any sense of urgency by adding he never expected Putin to attend without his also being in Istanbul, apparently concluding that “nothing is gonna happen” on Ukraine before he meets the Kremlin head.

Read more here.

Ukrainian foreign minister’s spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi speaks to the press in Istanbul on Friday.

Russia “voiced a number of things which we deem unacceptable” during Friday’s talks, the Ukrainian foreign minister’s spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi told reporters in Istanbul, adding that Ukraine’s delegation “handled it in a calm manner … still staying with our line.”

He did not expand on what those unacceptable things were.

He said the Ukrainian delegation “was ready to have a ceasefire agreed today,” but this might not have been achievable because Russia’s low-level delegation “probably has [a] limited mandate.”

Tykhyi said Ukraine is “grateful” for Turkey’s role in “presenting this opportunity, this platform, for the peace effort.”

“We value Turkish engagement and [its] role as a facilitator … that can really help bring an end to the war,” he said.

A Turkish official said Friday’s talks between Ukraine and Russia were “more positive than expected,” hours after the discussions wrapped up in Istanbul.

“It was more positive than expected. They didn’t use accusatory language,” the Turkish official told CNN.

The official said that Russia’s demand that Ukraine pull out of territory still under its control was made “in the context of speaking about the ceasefire.” A source familiar with Friday’s negotiations had earlier told CNN that Russia’s team made the demand that Kyiv pull out of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, the four regions which Russia attempted to illegally annex in 2022.

“At a moment where it seemed like there was an impasse, we suggested the POW exchange that will include three categories – children, civilians and soldiers. The Ukrainian side went out to get approval for it,” the Turkish official said of the agreed prisoner swap between the two nations.
The Russian team “seemed to need to consult less than the Ukrainians,” the official said, adding: “They are two sides coming to the table to talk about two different things. But the fact that they came to İstanbul can be seen as a need on their part to find a way out.”

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov speaks during a press conference in Istanbul on Friday.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said the agreement with Russia to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war is an “important achievement,” but the next goal is to have discussions between the two countries’ leaders.

“Our president (Volodymyr Zelensky) was expecting the high-level discussions here, and I think the next step would be that the leaders-level meeting should be organized,” he told reporters in Istanbul.

He added that while Ukraine is able to continue fighting, “at the end of the day we need to finalize this war.”

Speaking alongside Umerov, First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya called Friday’s talks “potentially a very good end to a very difficult day that is a result of many weeks of work of our leaders – of the president of Ukraine, of the United States, of the president of Turkey and our European partners.”

He described the success of Friday’s negotiations as “tentative” and “still to be consolidated,” calling for pressure on Russia to continue. “We should not really relax at this point,” he said.

“There are many issues that can be resolved if only the leaders can meet because, given the complexity of the issues, and given the nature of the Russian Federation – where practically every single issue that is at stake can only be resolved by President (Vladimir) Putin – we are looking forward to having the summit sooner than later,” said Kyslytsya.

Talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey on Friday ended without a breakthrough. Here’s what you need to know.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan chairs a meeting between Ukrainian and Russian negotiators in Istanbul, Turkey, on Friday.

Two American tourists stopped outside the Dolmabahce palace in Istanbul on Friday afternoon, to ask why all the journalists were there.

“Russia-Ukraine talks”. Their eyes widened with excitement. “Zelensky is there?” they asked.

The fact he wasn’t, for the tourists, and everyone else meant Friday’s talks were at best an anti-climax, at worst a setback in efforts to kickstart a peace process.

The Turkish foreign minister wishing both sides “success in the upcoming technical negotiations” brought any lingering expectations right back down to earth at the start. And Russia’s demand, according to a source familiar with the negotiations, that Ukraine should withdraw from territory Russia does not even occupy if it wants a ceasefire - the final piece of proof that this was going nowhere.

Outside, the confusion of Thursday gave way to a sense of resignation. TV crews at the Dolmabahce palace had set up tents opposite the large wooden door to the complex, but the crowd had thinned out and seemed calmer.

By the end of the day, even the Turkish TV networks which had been in wall-to-wall coverage, had nothing left to talk about, and shifted to other stories.

From left - Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz, France's President Emmanuel Macron and Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer talk to the press after their meeting on in Tirana, Albania, on Friday.

The leaders of the UK, France, Germany and Poland said Russia’s position at its talks with Ukraine on Friday was “unacceptable,” after a holding a phone conversation with President Donald Trump.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, joined by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish leader Donald Tusk, said in a statement on Friday that “the Russian position is clearly unacceptable, and not for the first time,” according to Reuters.

The four leaders were speaking on the sidelines of a European meeting in Tirana, Albania, where they were joined by Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and held a group call with President Trump.

“As a result of that meeting with President Zelensky and the discussion with President Trump, we are now closely aligning and coordinating our responses and will continue to do so,” he said,” Starmer said, according to Reuters.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, center, chairs a meeting between Ukrainian and Russian negotiators in Istanbul, Turkey, on Friday.

Turkey’s foreign minister, who chaired a meeting between Ukrainian and Russian delegates in Istanbul on Friday, hailed the talks as an “important day for world peace.”

“As a result of intense diplomatic efforts, Russian and Ukrainian delegations held a meeting in Istanbul, facilitated by Türkiye,” Hakan Fidan wrote on X.

“As a result of the meeting, they agreed to exchange 1,000 people from each country as a confidence-building measure.”

He continued, “They also agreed to share with the other side in writing the conditions that would make it possible to reach a ceasefire.”

Fidan added that both sides had agreed in principle to meet again.

From left - Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, France's President Emmanuel Macron, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, speak with U.S. President Donald Trump on the phone during the European Political Community Summit in Tirana, Albania, on Frdiay.

More now on that phone call between US President Donald Tump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders that came soon after the talks in Istanbul ended.

Following the call, Zelensky reiterated that “pressure on Russia must be maintained,” saying he talked to Trump alongside the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Poland on the sidelines of a European meeting in Albania.

“Ukraine is ready to take the fastest possible steps to bring real peace, and it is important that the world holds a strong stance,” Zelensky wrote on social media after the call.

“Our position — if the Russians reject a full and unconditional ceasefire and an end to killings, tough sanctions must follow. Pressure on Russia must be maintained until Russia is ready to end the war Thank you to everyone in the world who is helping.”

A Ukrainian delegation, led by Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov attend a meeting with the Russian delegation in Istanbul, Turkey, on Friday.

Ukraine and Russia agreed to a large-scale prisoner swap during their talks, the head of Ukraine’s delegation said in an interview with Ukraine’s public broadcaster.

“We discussed an exchange of 1,000 for 1,000. We are also working on other modalities for this exchange,” Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov told Suspilne.

“[The exchange will take place] in the near future; we already know the date, but we will not disclose it yet,” he added.

Thousands of prisoners have been released in a series of exchanges between Kyiv and Moscow since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

A ceasefire as well as potential direct talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr were also discussed during Friday’s talks, Umerov said.

This post has been updated.

Vladimir Medinsky, center, Counselor to Russian President Putin and Head of the Russian delegation at the negotiations in Istanbul, speaks to press after the trilateral meeting on Friday.

The head of Russia’s delegation in Turkey has confirmed that a large-scale prisoner exchange between Moscow and Kyiv will take palace and said each country will “present its vision of a possible future ceasefire,” after talks between the warring countries concluded Friday.

Vladimir Medinsky said the prisoner swap will see 1,000 prisoners in each country released.

And he said that discussions will continue after “each side will present its vision of a possible future ceasefire, detailing it in writing.”

From left, Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk, France's President Emmanuel Macron, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz take part in a meeting during the European Political Community summit, in Tirana, Albania, on Friday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk held a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Friday, according to the Ukrainian presidency.

The Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul were the main topic of conversation, a spokesperson for Zelensky told CNN.

We’ll bring you more on this as we get it.

The Russian delegation at Dolmabahce Presidential Office on Friday.

Russia demanded during talks in Istanbul that Ukraine must cede land still under Kyiv’s control during face-to-face talks, a source familiar with Friday’s negotiations told CNN.

Asked if Russia demanded that Ukraine fully withdraw from four contested eastern regions, the source said: “Yes.”

Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson are the four regions in question, which Russia attempted to illegally annex in 2022.

Russia claims these regions but does not have full control over them.

Now that the Russia-Ukraine talks have ended we’re starting to get some reaction - and the initial signs do not point to any progress.

A Ukrainian source with knowledge of the negotiations said the Russia delegation “did not have a mandate to make important decisions.”

“They are not ready to decide anything meaningful to end the war,” the source said.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, having called for the talks, then decided not to attend them, instead sending a team led by a Kremlin aide.

Pope Leo XIV leads a Regina Caeli prayer from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on Sunday.

The Vatican has offered help to bring peace to Ukraine, suggesting the Holy See as a venue for talks, Italian media outlet RAI reported, citing the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin.

Parolin said on Friday that the Holy See could be made available for a meeting between Ukraine and Russia so that they could meet and “at least talk” to one another, RAI reported.

The Holy See could be a “very suitable place,” Parolin added.

Pope Leo said on Friday that “the Holy See is always ready to help bring enemies together, face-to-face, to talk to one another, so that peoples everywhere may once more find hope and recover the dignity they deserve, the dignity of peace.”

This post has been updated.

A television screen in a restaurant in Kyiv shows news of in-person talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, Turkey, on Friday.

A meeting between Ukrainian and Russian officials has ended, according to Turkey’s foreign ministry.

The talks - the first of their kind in three years - lasted a little under two hours. We’ll bring you any reaction as we get it.

If you’re wondering what’s happening right now, as far as we’ve heard the talks between Russian and Ukraine are continuing - that’s according to the Turkish foreign ministry.

Some details are emerging from the meeting: after that symbolic sight of the two sides together in the same room, a source in the Ukrainian team said that they are speaking to the Russian side through an interpreter.

It is unclear why when Russian is commonly spoke in Ukraine but hints at the level of enmity between the two. The Ukrainian side may be wanting to make clear that their language is not Russian.

The first direct talks between Ukraine and Russia in three years are now underway.

Notably, neither Russian leader Vladimir Putin nor Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are in attendance.

Here’s what you need to know:

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, center, chairs a Turkey Russia Ukraine trilateral meeting at Dolmabahce Presidential Office in Istanbul, Turkey, on Friday.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, wished Ukrainian and Russian delegations “good luck” as negotiations between the two sides get underway in Istanbul.

In a speech at the start of the meeting, Fidan said, “This meeting marks the first direct contact since March 2022. We must seize this opportunity to make progress on the path to peace.”

He continued: “As the war continues to claim lives, the immediate implementation of a ceasefire has become all the more crucial. The next phase will be shaped together through the choices we make and the steps we take.”

The foreign minister described Friday’s negotiations as “technical talks” that would lay the groundwork for a potential meeting between the two countries’ leaders.

A reminder: Russia’s President Putin first suggested these talks but the Kremlin later said he would not attend. Ukraine’s President Zelensky also is not there, having said the only Russian official he’d meet is Putin.