Leaders from Russia and Ukraine met Friday in Istanbul for the first direct talks since March 2022.
The talks lasted less than two hours, and while no clear results towards peace were reached, the two nations did agree to a large prisoner swap.
In an equal exchange, 1,000 prisoners of war will be exchanged on each side, according to Vladimir Medinsky, a top Kremlin aide.
Medinsky acknowledged that Ukraine has requested direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian leadership but did not confirm if Russian President Vladimir Putin would agree to such a request. Medinsky added that each delegation did agree for each side to present a ceasefire plan in detail and that talks will continue.
A source with knowledge of the talks told CNN that Russia is “not ready to decide anything meaningful to end the war.”
Putin proposed the direct peace talks but…
