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Russia and Ukraine exchanged peace roadmaps and agreed to conduct another prisoner swap during high-level talks in Istanbul on Monday, marking the first direct negotiations between the warring parties since the early weeks of Russia's invasion nearly three years ago.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that "delegations exchanged documents through the Turkish side, and we are preparing a new release of prisoners of war" during a press conference in Vilnius following the conclusion of talks at Ciragan Palace.
Ukrainian Presidential Office Chief Andriy Yermak confirmed that Ukraine formally handed over to the Russian side a list of Ukrainian children who must be returned during the Istanbul talks.
"Today, at the talks held in Istanbul, the Ukrainian side formally handed over to the Russian side the list of Ukrainian children who must be returned. These are hundreds of children whom Russia illegally deported, forcibly displaced or held in temporarily occupied territories," Yermak stated on his Telegram account.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy emphasized that any peace agreement must not reward Russian aggression, stating, "The key to lasting peace is clear, the aggressor must not receive any reward for war. Putin must get nothing that would justify his aggression."
The Ukrainian leader said Kyiv was "ready to take the necessary steps for peace" while maintaining that Ukraine would not accept terms that legitimize Russia's invasion.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov outlined Ukraine's three main agenda points: "Secondly, the liberation of our people, prisoners, and abducted children. Thirdly, a meeting between leaders. Only the exchange aspect has been agreed upon so far. Further details will be provided later."
The minister confirmed that the first point was achieving a cease-fire, indicating Ukraine seeks a "full and unconditional cease-fire" to create space for discussing a long-term settlement.
Yermak emphasized the significance of returning Ukrainian children, stating, "The return of Ukrainian children is an integral part of just and lasting peace and a fundamental element of trust, the first test of the sincerity of intentions. We are waiting for an answer."
He added, "The ball is in Russia's court. Real good will is not words, but actions. Now is the time to prove it," while recalling that Ukraine had previously accepted ceasefire provisions during talks held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
While Ukraine seeks an immediate cease-fire and return of prisoners and abducted children, Russia has indicated it wants to address what it calls the "root causes" of the conflict—language typically referring to demands for limiting Ukraine's military capabilities, preventing NATO membership, and territorial concessions.
Moscow has repeatedly rejected Ukrainian calls for an unconditional cease-fire, while Kyiv and Western allies maintain that Russia's demands are baseless justifications for what they describe as an imperialist land grab.
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