Ukraine-Russia Talks in Istanbul Yield Limited Progress, but Hope Remains for Summit

Ukraine and Russia held talks in Istanbul on June 2, 2025, focusing on prisoner exchanges and the possibility of a future summit between Presidents Zelenskyy and Putin. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated that Russia will take a week to study the signed memorandum. He also highlighted discussions about additional prisoner exchanges. Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation, confirmed the large-scale exchange agreement. President Erdogan of Turkey called the talks "remarkable" and expressed hope for a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin, potentially including President Trump. While the talks yielded some progress, major breakthroughs were absent, reflecting the complexities of the ongoing conflict.