Russia demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from all occupied regions-including Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson-before agreeing to any ceasefire, according to a senior Ukrainian official familiar with last week's face-to-face negotiations in Istanbul. The Kremlin has not confirmed the demands, but said future talks would depend on "certain agreements" being reached in advance.
Friday's meeting marked the first direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine since March 2022, only weeks after Moscow's full-scale invasion. The 100-minute session resulted in an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war on each side. However, Ukraine has characterized Russia's territorial conditions as "unacceptable."
The talks come as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky calls for stronger international sanctions in the wake of new Russian attacks. A Russian drone strike on Saturday killed nine civilians in a minibus in the Sumy region. "This was a deliberate killing of civilians," Zelensky said. "Pressure must be exerted on Russia to stop the killings. Without tougher sanctions, without stronger pressure, Russia will not seek real diplomacy."
Russia's defense ministry claimed the Sumy strike targeted a military site. The attack follows escalating bombardments across Ukraine's northeastern and southeastern regions:
- Sumy Region: 9 killed, 7 wounded in drone attack on civilian vehicle.
- Kherson Region: 2 killed, 13 injured in shelling of a residential zone and aid truck.
- Kharkiv Region: 2 killed, a dozen injured in aerial strikes.
- Donetsk Region: 3 killed on Friday amid ongoing shelling.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to confirm Ukraine's version of the ceasefire demands, stating that discussions should be conducted "absolutely behind closed doors." He reiterated that a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and President Zelensky is possible, but only "if certain agreements are achieved."
Peskov added that the immediate focus is completing the POW swap and establishing conditions for further dialogue. "This, of course, means first and foremost to complete a 1,000-for-1,000 swap," he told reporters.
Zelensky has repeatedly challenged Putin to meet face-to-face. "Yesterday in Istanbul, everyone saw a weak and unprepared Russian delegation with no significant powers. This must change. We need real steps to end the war," Zelensky said Saturday.
French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking after the Istanbul talks, said, "Today, what do we have? Nothing. And so I tell you, faced with President Putin's cynicism, I am sure that President Trump, mindful of the credibility of the United States, will react."
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw from peace efforts unless there is demonstrable progress. He has called on both sides to end "this stupid war" and insisted that nothing will move forward until he meets with Putin directly.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU is working on a new sanctions package, which France has urged should be severe enough to "suffocate" the Russian economy. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy criticized Moscow's stance, stating: "Once again Russia is not serious. At what point do we say to Putin enough is enough?"
During the Istanbul negotiations, Russia reportedly insisted that Ukraine withdraw from territories Moscow claims as annexed, including four regions seized after 2022 and Crimea, which Russia took in 2014. Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman Georgiy Tykhy labeled those terms "unacceptable."
