The first direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine since the early stages of Moscow's 2022 invasion concluded after less than two hours on Friday, failing to reach a ceasefire agreement but agreeing on a prisoner exchange. In an unusual late-night television address last Sunday, Vladimir Putin proposed direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul with the aim of "eliminating the root causes of the conflict" and "achieving the restoration of long-term, lasting peace."

He referred to unsuccessful negotiations following the Russian invasion in 2022, stating: "It was not Russia that broke off negotiations in 2022. It was Kyiv. Nevertheless, we are proposing that Kyiv resume direct negotiations without any preconditions."

The brief meeting saw the Russian team led by Vladimir Medinsky, a senior aide to President Vladimir Putin, while Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov represented Kyiv. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan acted as mediator.

Despite sitting opposite each other at a U-shaped table in the Dolmabahce Palace, the two sides remained far apart on their terms for ending the war. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan initiated the talks by encouraging participants "to take advantage of this opportunity," emphasising the critical importance of achieving a ceasefire as soon as possible.

One of Ukraine's stipulations for peace talks is a temporary ceasefire, which the Kremlin has resisted, leaving the prospect of a truce uncertain. "We haven't received a Russian 'yes' on this basic point," stated Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhii after discussions, reports the Mirror.

"If you want to have serious negotiations, you have to have guns silenced."

However, the head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, expressed contentment with the negotiations, noting that Moscow was prepared to maintain dialogue.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that he had conversations about the talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and the leaders of France, Germany, the U.K., and Poland. From a European leadership summit in Albania, he posted on X, calling for "tough sanctions" against Moscow should it refuse "a full and unconditional ceasefire and an end to killings."

Despite the tensions, Kyiv and Moscow have agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each, as confirmed by the heads of both delegations, marking their largest swap to date. Both parties also broached the subject of a ceasefire and a potential meeting between their state leaders, according to Ukraine's chief delegate, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

Medinsky, an aide to President Vladimir Putin, announced that both parties have agreed to offer detailed ceasefire proposals, noting that Ukraine has requested a meeting between heads of state, which Russia is contemplating. Ukraine's first deputy foreign minister, Serhii Kyslytsia, declared: "The pressure on the Russian Federation must continue. We should not really relax at this point."

Despite ongoing discussions, significant chasms persist between the two sides, and additional complexities are anticipated before the next bout of negotiations unfolds.