Russia, Ukraine swap hundreds of prisoners—but peace talks go nowhere

Published: July 23, 2025 – 4:50 PM PST

A new round of talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul ended with a breakthrough prisoner exchange—but offered little hope for an end to the war. Despite the release of hundreds of captured soldiers, both sides remain deeply divided over terms for a ceasefire and future peace negotiations.

Istanbul talks bring limited progress

Russian and Ukrainian negotiators met for the third time in recent months, hoping to find common ground. The talks, which lasted less than an hour, resulted in a mutual agreement to exchange 250 prisoners of war from each side along the Belarusian-Ukrainian border.

Russia’s lead negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, confirmed that a larger exchange was in the works, potentially involving over 1,200 prisoners from each side.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky celebrated the return of more than 1,000 Ukrainians, saying on Telegram:

“Bringing all our people back is a priority for the state. And we will continue all efforts to ensure that all our people return from captivity.”

Peace summit proposals dismissed

While the prisoner swap was a positive step, negotiators failed to agree on broader goals—such as a ceasefire or peace summit.

Ukraine’s top delegate, former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, proposed a summit by the end of August between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also suggested including U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to help facilitate progress.

Russia immediately rejected the idea, with Medinsky stating that such a meeting should only happen after a peace framework has been established.

On the battlefield, Ukraine continues to call for a full and unconditional ceasefire. But Moscow has only offered short, temporary halts to allow for medical evacuations—a far cry from the lasting truce Kyiv demands.

Trump’s 50-day ultimatum to Russia

Ahead of the Istanbul meeting, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a 50-day deadline for Russia to reach a peace deal—or face new economic pressure.

Trump has pledged to support tougher sanctions on Russian oil and banking and to back European allies providing military aid to Ukraine.

“My conversations with [Putin] are very pleasant… and then the missiles go off at night,” Trump said last week.

The EU is also preparing a new sanctions package that would lower the price cap on Russian oil and cut off financial institutions helping Moscow evade restrictions.

Russian casualties surpass 1 million

The war’s toll continues to rise. The UK’s Ministry of Defence now estimates that Russian casualties have exceeded 1 million since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

The grim milestone aligns with projections from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, which had expected such numbers by mid-2025.

Despite these losses, Russia has not shown signs of backing down. Putin continues to frame the war as a mission to “reunite” Russians and Ukrainians—rhetoric that Ukraine and much of the world see as a denial of Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Why it matters now

The prisoner exchange brings some relief to families, but the broader outlook remains grim. Ukraine wants a complete end to hostilities, while Russia is only offering temporary pauses.

With Trump’s 50-day warning on the clock and new sanctions looming, the coming weeks may prove decisive in shaping the future of the war.

Final thoughts

Istanbul’s limited progress shows how far apart both sides still are. While thousands of prisoners are now heading home, the prospects for peace remain uncertain.

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