Russia and Ukraine held brief peace talks in Istanbul, focusing on prisoner exchanges. While progress was made on humanitarian issues, including a potential exchange of over 1,200 POWs and 3,000 bodies, a ceasefire remains elusive. Ukraine proposed a Zelenskyy-Putin meeting before August, but Russia wants a signed agreement before such a summit. Disagreements persist on ceasefire terms, with Ukraine seeking an immediate and extended ceasefire while Russia proposes shorter ceasefires. The talks lasted just 40 minutes, shorter than previous meetings.

Prepared by Rachel Morgan and reviewed by editorial team.