Ukraine and Russia have reached an agreement on a new prisoner exchange after the second round of peace talks in Istanbul. The meeting took place on June 2, 2025. It ended with both sides agreeing to exchange wounded soldiers and combatants under the age of 25. They also agreed to return the bodies of fallen soldiers.
The talks were held at the Ciragan Palace in Turkey. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said both sides are finalizing the details. The exchange will include seriously injured soldiers, sick individuals, and young fighters. This agreement follows an earlier swap on May 16, where 1,000 prisoners were exchanged from each side.
During the meeting, Ukraine also gave Russia a list of names of children. Ukraine claims that these children were illegally taken by Russian forces. Ukraine hopes to get them back as part of future deals. President Volodymyr Zelensky had made three demands before the talks began. These were a 30-day ceasefire, a new prisoner exchange, and the return of deported children. So far, only the prisoner swap has moved forward.
Russia presented its own list of demands during the talks. These include Ukraine giving up claims to Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson. Russia wants Ukraine to pull out of these regions. Moscow also wants Ukraine to stop trying to join NATO, reduce its army, and avoid foreign military help. Russia asked that the Russian language become official in Ukraine. It also wants Ukraine to drop any plans to claim damages from the war and to pardon all political prisoners.
Ukraine has strongly opposed these terms. Ukrainian officials say Russia does not fully control the areas it wants to annex. They also argue that such demands are unfair and one-sided.
Fighting continued in Ukraine during the talks. At least five people were killed by Russian bombings in eastern Ukraine. One person died in Kramatorsk. Two more were killed in Illinivka. Another two women died near Kupiansk in Kharkiv region. This region has been under heavy attack for many months.
In Zaporizhia, a region under Russian control, Ukraine launched a strike. Russian media reported that the bombing caused a power outage. However, the nuclear power plant in the area was not affected.
In the United States, President Donald Trump showed frustration with the peace process. He called Russia’s actions dangerous and said the situation was getting worse. Trump has not added new sanctions on Russia but warned that stronger actions might come if talks fail. Ukrainian President Zelensky asked the U.S. and the EU to prepare new sanctions in case progress is not made.
A spokesperson from the White House said Trump might consider a summit with Putin and Zelensky. The goal would be to speed up peace efforts and avoid further bloodshed.
Human rights groups have welcomed the new prisoner swap. They say it is a small but meaningful step during a long and painful war. The inclusion of young and wounded soldiers shows some level of concern for humanitarian issues. However, experts believe more trust and effort are needed to reach lasting peace.
This new deal proves that talks are still possible. But with both sides far apart in their demands, it may take more time and international pressure to stop the war. Ukraine wants to defend its land and recover its children. Russia wants control over territory and changes to Ukraine’s laws and alliances.
The road to peace is still long. Yet the prisoner swap offers a bit of hope that future deals can be made, even during difficult times.
