ISTANBUL: For the first time since March, 2022 negotiators from the belligerent Russia and Ukraine met here Friday (16th May, 2025) for two hours in order to figure out means to end the war under Trump’s pressure.
Venue was the Dolmabahce Palace where Ukrainian delegation (many attired in military fatigues) sat facing their Russian counterparts (donned in suits) as Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan addressed them pointing out how critical it was to achieve a truce ASAP: “There are two paths ahead of us: one road will take us on a process that will lead to peace, while the other will lead to more destruction and death. The sides will decide on their own, with their own will, which path they choose.”
Russia and Ukraine agreed to swap 1000 PoWs each: According to the Defense Minister of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, the two sides have agreed to swap 1000 PoWs each: “We have discussed the ceasefire issue. And the issue of [prisoner] swaps. The result is the swap of 1,000 persons for 1,000. That’s the result of our meeting.” Talking to reporters Defense Minister told that the date (of PoW swap) had been set but it was not being made public. Modalities of ceasefire and possibility of a rendezvous between Zelensky and Putin were pondered over. Next date of meeting will be announced later.
It may be recalled that in order to signal that he was still interested in peace, Putin had unilaterally announced a 3-day (7,8,9 May) truce on 28th April. Kremlin in a statement proclaimed: “The Russian side is declaring a ceasefire during the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, from midnight on May 7-8 to midnight on May 10-11. All combat operations will be suspended during this period…Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow this example. In the event of violations of the truce by the Ukrainian side, the Russian armed forces will give an adequate and effective response.”
Meanwhile, rejecting the Ukraine’s proposal apropos extending Putin’s unilateral 3-day ceasefire to 30 days, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it would be difficult to enter into long-term ceasefire sans clearing up a number of matters unanswered so far. Putin had earlier too declared an Easter Truce in war with Ukraine on 19th April: “Today from 18:00 (15:00 GMT) to midnight Sunday (21:00 GMT), the Russian side announces an Easter truce.” Taking to the Social Media Platform Telegram, Russian Ministry of Defence announced: “The ceasefire regime is being introduced for humanitarian purposes and will be observed by the Russian Joint Group of Troops [Forces], provided that it is mutually observed by the Kyiv regime.”
Newspakistan.tv
