Russia Rejects ‘Unconditional Ceasefire’ With Ukraine As Istanbul Peace Talks End
Russia refused to agree to an unconditional ceasefire during peace talks with Ukraine held in Istanbul on Monday, Ukrainian negotiators confirmed, as the second round of Turkey-mediated peace talks concluded after about an hour with limited progress toward ending the three-year conflict.
Ukrainian negotiator Sergiy Kyslytsya told reporters that “the Russian side continued to reject the motion of an unconditional ceasefire” during the brief diplomatic meeting, highlighting the continued impasse between the two warring nations.
The negotiations, hosted by Turkish officials, marked the second attempt at direct peace talks following initial discussions on May 16 that lasted two hours. While the previous round resulted in a large-scale prisoner exchange, it made little headway toward ending Europe’s largest conflict since World War II.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that both countries are working on a fresh prisoner exchange as decided during Monday’s talks. His chief of staff revealed that the Ukrainian delegation presented Russia with a list of deported children whom Ukraine is seeking to have returned.
The talks took place against a backdrop of escalating military actions and heightened tensions on both sides.
The peace negotiations came just hours after one of Ukraine’s most daring attacks of the war on Sunday, which targeted Russian nuclear-capable long-range bombers across multiple locations in Siberia and other remote areas.
According to reports, the strikes targeted military bases in Russia’s Arctic, Siberia, and Far East regions, over 7,000 kilometers from Ukraine’s borders. The unprecedented reach of the attack demonstrated Ukraine’s expanding military capabilities.
Kira Rudik, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament, said the operation was strategic, stating: “Destruction of 40 Russian jets isn’t random. Russia keeps launching 500 drones and missiles at us—it’s only a matter of time before things start shifting on their end.”
Rudik claimed the estimated cost of damage from the drone strikes exceeds USD 2 billion, potentially making it one of the most expensive single attacks on Russia’s air assets since the war began in February 2022.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy called the operation “brilliant,” suggesting that such military setbacks would push Russia toward serious diplomacy and peace negotiations.
As the Istanbul talks began, tensions ran high within Russia, with prominent war bloggers and military commentators urging Moscow to deliver powerful retaliatory strikes against Kyiv in response to Sunday’s attack.
The calls for escalation underscore the challenges facing diplomatic efforts, as military actions on both sides continue to influence the negotiating atmosphere.
The Istanbul talks represent ongoing international efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict that has devastated both countries and affected global food and energy security. Turkey has positioned itself as a key mediator, hosting multiple rounds of negotiations since the war’s early stages.
Previous diplomatic efforts have yielded limited results, with Russia maintaining demands that Ukraine considers unacceptable, including territorial concessions and restrictions on NATO membership.
The conflict has resulted in thousands of casualties and millions of displaced persons, making the search for a peaceful resolution increasingly urgent despite the apparent diplomatic deadlock.
