Russia, Ukraine Discussed Truce, Prisoner Swap in Talks

Hakan Fidan chairs a meeting with Russia and Ukraine at Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, on May 16.Photographer: Arda Kucukkaya/Anadolu/Getty Images

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By Daryna Krasnolutska, Natalia Drozdiak, and Selcan Hacaoglu

May 16, 2025 at 10:44 AM UTC

Updated on

May 16, 2025 at 5:54 PM UTC

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The first direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in more than three years ended in Turkey with an agreement on an exchange of prisoners and discussions on a potential ceasefire, though no truce was announced.

The negotiations in Istanbul’s Dolmabahce Palace lasted about two hours on Friday. Ukraine and Russia said they’d agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners each in coming days, in separate statements.