On May 16, 2025, the first direct talks between Russia and Ukraine since March 2022 took place in Istanbul, which, despite the lack of progress on key issues, ended with an agreement on the exchange of prisoners. According to CNN, citing a Turkish official, after Russia demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from four former regions, the negotiations reached an impasse. At that point, Turkey proposed focusing on a humanitarian initiative - an exchange of prisoners, including three categories: children, civilians and military personnel. This proposal allowed the parties to reach an agreement on the largest prisoner exchange according to the formula "1000 for 1000", as stated by the heads of both delegations.

The talks, chaired by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and held at the Dolmabahce Palace, lasted less than two hours. The Turkish official noted that “the discussions were more positive than expected,” as both sides avoided accusatory rhetoric. However, he said, the Ukrainian delegation, led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, took longer to agree on the swap proposal, as Kyiv’s representatives temporarily left the room to consult with their leadership. The Russian delegation, led by presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky, agreed on the initiative more quickly, which, according to a CNN source, reflects the different objectives of the parties. “The very fact of their arrival in Istanbul speaks to the need to find a way out,” the official emphasized.

Russian demands voiced in Istanbul included not only the withdrawal of troops from the four regions, but also neutral status for Ukraine, the renunciation of reparations, and international recognition of Crimea and the aforementioned territories as part of Russia, Bloomberg reports. These conditions were rejected by Ukraine as "unacceptable." Commenting on the results in Ankara, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that negotiations were possible only on the condition of a complete withdrawal of Russian troops and the return of all territories, including Crimea.