Istanbul, 16 May 2025 (dpa/MIA) — Negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian envoys in Turkey ended after around 90 minutes on Friday, with the only known outcome an agreement on a large-scale prisoner exchange between the two warring parties.

Some 1,000 prisoners from each side will be swapped "in the near future," in the largest exchange since the start of the war, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said following the talks.

The two sides met for negotiations in the Turkish city of Istanbul for the first time since the spring of 2022 — shortly after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Umerov led the Ukrainian delegation, while Russian President Vladimir Putin's adviser, Vladimir Medinsky, negotiated on behalf of Russia. The US delegation was led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fiden, who opened the talks by welcoming both delegations and calling for a swift ceasefire, served as a buffer between the negotiating tables in Istanbul's Dolmabahçe Palace.

Zelensky regrets missed opportunity

Following the talks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed regret at what he called a missed opportunity for peace.

"This week, we had a real chance to move toward ending the war — if only Putin hadn't been afraid to come to Türkiye," Zelensky posted on X from the sidelines of a European Political Community summit in Albania.

Zelensky said he had been "ready for a direct meeting with him [Putin] to resolve all key issues" but "he didn't agree to anything."

Zelensky had publicly called on Putin last weekend to meet him in person in Istanbul. Putin did not respond and instead sent a lower-ranking delegation to Turkey for talks.

However, Russian negotiator Medinsky expressed satisfaction with the talks and said Moscow was ready for further negotiations, including on a ceasefire.

"We have agreed that all sides will present their views on a possible ceasefire and set them out in detail," Medinsky said after the meeting.

The negotiations would then continue, he added, without specifying a concrete timetable.

Zelensky says 'world must respond' if no ceasefire deal

Addressing fellow leaders at the EPC summit in Tirana during the talks in Istanbul, Zelensky said Kyiv's allies must impose more sanctions on Russia if Moscow does not agree to an unconditional ceasefire in Turkey.

"Our number one priority is a full, unconditional, and honest ceasefire. This must happen immediately to stop the killing and create a solid basis for diplomacy," Zelensky said.

But if the Russian representatives in Istanbul do not agree to a ceasefire then "the world must respond," he said.

"There needs to be a strong reaction, including sanctions [on] Russia's energy sector and banks," Zelensky added.

"Pressure must continue to rise until real progress is made. Ukraine is ready to take all realistic steps to end this war. I call on Putin to give his delegation real authority."

German defense minister says Putin does not want end to war

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the negotiations in Turkey showed that Putin does not want to end the war in Ukraine.

"First, Vladimir Putin announces that he wants to hold talks on a ceasefire. Then he doesn't come to Istanbul and sends the third guard and refuses to talk to President Zelensky," Pistorius said in Rome.

"This shows very clearly, without the need for further words, that he [Putin] is currently not at all interested in ending this war of aggression, which he could do with a single order," Pistorius emphasized.

Merz says talks were a 'small diplomatic success'

Despite the muted end to the talks, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who was in Tirana alongside Zelensky, described them as a "very small diplomatic success."

"The fact that they are meeting today, the first time for three and a half years, is a very small but first positive signal," Merz said.

He added that more diplomatic efforts were required, emphasizing that Ukraine's allies should also be clear on their ongoing military support for Kyiv. "There should be no doubt that we are willing to continue to give our support," he said.

Merz and Zelensky, alongside the leaders of Britain, France and Poland — all in Tirana — had a phone call with US President Donald Trump to discuss the talks Friday.

Merz said the group would keep Trump "constantly informed about the progress of the talks on our side."

He also said that the group intends to make repeated offers for talks in the coming days and weeks.

The leaders stressed in the call the importance of maintaining pressure on Russia through sanctions, according to information obtained by dpa.

"We are now closely aligning and coordinating our responses and we'll continue to do so," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said after the call.

Low expectations for talks

Observers had expected little from the negotiations after it was announced that Putin would not attend, prompting Zelensky to withdraw his participation as well.

Speaking after the talks, Umerov said a possible summit between the Ukrainian and Russian leaders had been discussed but did not share further details.

The two sides also entered the talks with different objectives. Umerov said Kyiv wanted above all to negotiate a quick ceasefire, while Russia insisted that the negotiations were about "eliminating the causes of the conflict," according to the Foreign Ministry in Moscow.

Ahead of the talks, Moscow had also not backed down from its maximum demands, including that Ukraine relinquish its claim to Crimea — annexed by Russia in 2014 — as well as the partially occupied regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson.

Russia also insists that Ukraine abandon its aspirations for NATO membership.

Kremlin dashes hopes of imminent Trump-Putin meeting

Trump had previously asserted that there would be no real progress in peace efforts until he personally met Putin.

He said he wants to meet Putin "as soon as [the two sides] can set it up."

However, Moscow has dampened expectations of an imminent meeting between the two. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that while a meeting is undoubtedly necessary, it must be "prepared and productive," according to Russian news agencies.

The Kremlin spokesman explained that such meetings are always preceded by negotiations between experts, consultations, and "long, nerve-racking preparations."