Efforts to revive peace between Ukraine and Russia faced an immediate setback on Monday as a powerful Ukrainian drone strike on Russia’s nuclear-capable bombers overshadowed short-lived negotiations in Istanbul. The high-stakes meeting ended just an hour after starting—nearly two hours behind schedule—with tensions heightened following what is being described as one of Ukraine’s boldest attacks of the war.
This marked only the second face-to-face discussion between the two sides since 2022, and while the talks were brief and low-key, they produced a modest outcome: an agreement on a fresh prisoner exchange. Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, leading Kyiv’s delegation, stated that the new swap would prioritize severely wounded individuals and youth. He also revealed that Moscow had presented its own draft peace proposal, which Ukraine will now examine alongside its own version.
The drone assault, which occurred just a day before the talks, targeted strategic Russian bomber fleets in Siberia and other key sites. While Ukraine and Russia offered contrasting accounts of the damage, satellite images confirmed that Moscow suffered significant losses to its aerial assets—vital components of its nuclear strike capability. In response, pro-war Russian commentators called for a harsh counterattack.
Speaking at the opening of the talks in the ornate Ciragan Palace along Istanbul’s Bosphorus Strait, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized the gravity of the moment. “The eyes of the entire world are on this room,” he told the assembled delegations. Discussions were aimed at laying the groundwork for a potential ceasefire, exploring further prisoner releases, and evaluating the possibility of a direct meeting between Presidents Zelenskiy and Putin.
Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to President Zelenskiy, said Ukraine submitted a list of children it claims were forcibly taken to Russia—demanding their return. Moscow maintains these relocations were necessary for the children's safety.
While Monday’s agenda included a review of differing ceasefire strategies and longer-term peace visions, Ukraine said it was unable to respond immediately to Russia’s peace draft, having only received it that day. The delay, combined with simmering tensions and low expectations, made the prospect of immediate progress unlikely.
Each side remains deeply entrenched. Ukraine insists it will not surrender or accept Russian control over occupied regions, while Russia—invigorated by recent battlefield gains—demands Kyiv concede ground and abandon its NATO ambitions. Putin reiterated these demands as preconditions for any truce: withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from four contested regions and a halt to NATO integration.
A leaked Ukrainian roadmap viewed by Reuters outlines Kyiv’s conditions for peace, including maintaining full military capability, no recognition of Russia’s territorial claims, and reparations from Moscow. Russia currently occupies nearly 20% of Ukrainian territory, an area roughly the size of Ohio.
The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, after years of skirmishes in eastern Ukraine, has resulted in over 1.2 million casualties, according to U.S. estimates. While former U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed skepticism of both Putin and Zelenskiy, he has also indicated willingness to impose sanctions on Russia if peace remains elusive—a factor pushing both nations to remain at the table, despite the chaos unfolding on the battlefield.