Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan chairs a meeting between delegations from Russia and Ukraine Alamy Stock Photo

Ukraine and Russia agree to exchange 1,000 POWs and indicate future direct talks on the cards

Russian President Vladimir Putin did not show up, nor did his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.

LAST UPDATE | 16 May

IN THE FIRST direct talks between Ukraine and Russia since 2022, the two sides have agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war and indicated there may be future negotiations between presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin.

The negotiations, which took place in Turkey today, got off to an inauspicious start after Russia sent a relatively low-level delegation yesterday. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin did not show up, nor did his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, while Zelenskyy and his foreign minister did. Zelenskyy left Turkey yesterday.

Both sides traded insults prior to today’s talks, with Lavrov calling Zelenskyy a “clown” and a “loser”. Zelenskyy accused Russia of not taking the talks seriously and sending a “dummy” delegation.

But the noises coming out of today’s discussions appear to be mostly positive. 

“Overall, we are satisfied with the results and ready to continue contacts,” Russia’s lead negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said.

“In the coming days, there will be a large-scale exchange of prisoners, 1,000 for 1,000,” he said.

“The Ukrainian side has requested direct talks between the heads of state. We have taken note of this request… We have agreed that each side will present its vision of a possible future ceasefire,” he added.

Ukraine’s top negotiator, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, confirmed the swap in a separate statement and said a ceasefire and a possible Zelensky-Putin meeting had been discussed.

russian-presidential-aide-vladimir-medinsky-gives-an-statement-to-journalists-at-the-russian-consulate-in-istanbul-turkey-thursday-may-15-2025-ap-photofrancisco-seco Russian presidential aide, Vladimir Medinsky, gives an statement to journalists at the Russian consulate in Istanbul Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

“Ukraine is ready for peace and a long-term and unconditional ceasefire,” Zelenskyy’s top aid Andriy Yermak saidearlier today. 

Following the conclusion of today’s negotiations in Istanbul, Zelenskyy and the leaders of France, Germany, Britain and Poland held a phone call with US President Donald Trump.

“President Zelenskyy, President Macron, Chancellor Merz, PM Starmer and PM Tusk had a phone conversation with Donald Trump,” Sergiy Nykyforov said in a message to reporters.

So far, there has been no report of the substance of that call, but yesterday US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who expressed pessimism about the prospects of today’s low-level talks, said that there would likely be no major progress until Trump talked directly with Putin.

“Contacts between presidents Putin and Trump are extremely important in the context of the Ukrainian settlement,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters today, adding that “a meeting is undoubtedly necessary.”

Trump had said yesterday that nothing would be settled until the two leaders met. 

Western leaders have criticised Putin for skipping the talks and sending his aide — a former cultural minister Medinsky, who is not seen as a key Kremlin decision-maker.

Rubio acknowledged that the Russian representation was “not at the levels we had hoped it would be at”.

Russia’s Medinsky led the failed 2022 talks with Ukraine at the start of the war.

With reporting from © AFP 2025

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
77 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul O'Neill
    Favourite Paul O'Neill
    Report
    Oct 28th 2014, 1:24 PM

    Shur by the time you’ve found the right emoticon you’d have typed the word 5 times over!

    63
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Mac
    Favourite Thomas Mac
    Report
    Oct 28th 2014, 1:55 PM

    :-D

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rob
    Favourite Rob
    Report
    Oct 28th 2014, 1:23 PM

    Great.

    Except nobody that wants to find anything uses bing.

    52
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute One Human Being
    Favourite One Human Being
    Report
    Oct 28th 2014, 1:42 PM

    Is it going to get too a stage where the keypad will be like the one in idiocracy.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seán A Haon
    Favourite Seán A Haon
    Report
    Oct 28th 2014, 4:30 PM

    Only it will have balls, just so you can flick it in the balls and laugh..

    2
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute One Human Being
    Favourite One Human Being
    Report
    Oct 28th 2014, 8:11 PM

    Might watch ow my balls later http://youtu.be/r_4jrMwvZ2A then get some brawndo cause it’s got electrolytes.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seán A Haon
    Favourite Seán A Haon
    Report
    Oct 29th 2014, 10:26 AM

    Man, you need electrolytes. Can’t live without them.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larry K
    Favourite Larry K
    Report
    Oct 28th 2014, 1:33 PM

    When is the last time you said “I’ll just bing that”?

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tweety McTweeter
    Favourite Tweety McTweeter
    Report
    Oct 28th 2014, 1:24 PM

    Somehow I don’t think this feature, as groundbreaking and fantastic as it is, will cause a mass exodus from Google

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute One Human Being
    Favourite One Human Being
    Report
    Oct 28th 2014, 1:47 PM
    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergal Kelly
    Favourite Fergal Kelly
    Report
    Oct 28th 2014, 2:11 PM

    Not unless you don’t know what you’re looking for

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tweety McTweeter
    Favourite Tweety McTweeter
    Report
    Oct 28th 2014, 1:32 PM

    I can’t find an emoticon that adequately describes how feel about this news

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pinel G
    Favourite Pinel G
    Report
    Oct 28th 2014, 1:23 PM

    up up, down down, left right, left right, B, A. (thejournal why you not have hidden Konami Code easter egg!)

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seán A Haon
    Favourite Seán A Haon
    Report
    Oct 28th 2014, 4:31 PM

    Was that not a cheat for Mortal Kombat on the SNES??

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Radburn
    Favourite Paul Radburn
    Report
    Oct 28th 2014, 1:16 PM

    Soon we won’t have to wipe our own arses!

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy Mac
    Favourite Paddy Mac
    Report
    Oct 28th 2014, 1:23 PM

    Radburn sounds like an ass ailment.

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mrs Shalakalananaka
    Favourite Mrs Shalakalananaka
    Report
    Oct 28th 2014, 2:20 PM

    I already don’t, sure what’s the point, just gets dirty again too quickly.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anton
    Favourite Anton
    Report
    Oct 28th 2014, 2:21 PM

    Heh. At last, a use for Bing.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seán A Haon
    Favourite Seán A Haon
    Report
    Oct 28th 2014, 4:29 PM

    Sigh humanity..

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Furey
    Favourite Paul Furey
    Report
    Oct 28th 2014, 5:21 PM

    Some adults I know need to reign in their use of these little mad yokes.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds