By Redaction ARPS Media with Agencies
Russia and Ukraine held a third round of negotiations in Istanbul, resulting in an agreement to exchange around 1,200 prisoners, but little progress was made towards stopping the war.
Ukraine proposed a meeting involving the leaders of both countries, the US President, and the Turkish President by the end of August; however, Russia’s delegation stated that a summit would be pointless without a peace deal.
Discussions revealed significant differences in positions, but both sides agreed to continue talking, with Russia suggesting the formation of working groups on political, humanitarian, and military issues.
Turkish officials expressed their support for the negotiation process. The talks followed a warning from US President Trump to Putin regarding a ceasefire and potential sanctions if compliance was not met, amid ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Previous rounds of negotiations did not resolve the conflict that began in February 2022, with ongoing calls for a ceasefire from Ukraine and its allies being rejected by Russia.
