Istanbul Peace Talks: Ukraine and Russia Discuss POW Exchange

Recent Developments on June 2: Ukrainian and Russian representatives concluded peace discussions in Istanbul, paving the way for a significant prisoner exchange, according to President Zelensky. Five Ukrainian regions, prohibitions on NATO membership, and restrictions on Ukraine's military — Russian media reveals Moscow's key peace conditions. 34% of Russia's strategic bombers were reported damaged in an operation involving Ukrainian drones, as per the SBU. Moscow stated that over 160 Ukrainian drones were intercepted following a widespread strike on airfields. Ukrainian intelligence alerts about Russian efforts to recruit Ukrainians for illicit operations in Europe. During the peace talks held on June 2 in Istanbul, both Ukraine and Russia reached an agreement for a new exchange of prisoners of war despite failing to negotiate a ceasefire. This meeting, facilitated by Turkish officials, followed an earlier round of discussions on May 16, which had resulted in the largest POW exchange of the ongoing conflict but no significant progress towards lasting peace. Zelensky mentioned that the upcoming exchange could involve at least 1,000 individuals from each nation, potentially leading to a 1,200-for-1,200 exchange that might also encompass imprisoned journalists and political dissidents. Following these negotiations, Russia expressed willingness to return 6,000 bodies of Ukrainian fallen soldiers and proposed a temporary ceasefire in certain areas to facilitate this process. However, Zelensky indicated that only 15% of the bodies mentioned could be identified, emphasizing the need for Ukraine to verify their origins. "We had instances when they returned bodies that later were identified as their own," he noted. Post-meetings, the Kyiv Independent accessed Ukraine's official proposals to Russia, which included a complete ceasefire, prisoner exchanges in an "all-for-all" manner, the restoration of abducted children, and the liberation of civilians held captive by Russia. Additionally, Ukraine sought guarantees to prevent future hostilities, alongside international involvement in the peace process. Furthermore, under the discussed proposals, Ukraine would continue pursuing EU membership and could consider joining NATO with the alliance's consensus. Ukraine also expressed readiness to entertain a gradual easing of certain sanctions against Russia while requiring a mechanism for their potential reinstatement if future aggression occurs. The recommendation for utilizing Russian frozen assets for Ukraine's reconstruction and reparations was also stated. Content of Russia's Peace Demands Revealed During the Istanbul talks, the Russian side presented a "peace memorandum" outlining their terms for a ceasefire. According to reports from TASS, key components of Russia's demands include the formal recognition of Crimea's annexation and the annexation of various Ukrainian regions such as Kherson, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk, despite Moscow lacking complete control over these areas. Additionally, Russia insisted that Ukrainian forces withdraw from these regions, followed by a broader demobilization within Ukraine. Further, the memorandum called for Ukraine to adopt a neutral policy with