Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Collapse After Two Hours
The first direct Russia-Ukraine peace talks in over three years concluded after less than two hours, resulting in a significant prisoner exchange of 1,000 POWs each. Despite this progress, key disagreements remain, primarily concerning a ceasefire—a condition Ukraine and its Western allies insist upon as a prerequisite for further negotiations, while Russia has not yet agreed to. Russia introduced new, unacceptable territorial demands, further highlighting the significant chasm between the two sides. Despite the stalemate, both delegations expressed a willingness to continue dialogue.