Russia and Ukraine agree prisoner swap - with Putin's negotiator 'suggesting limited ceasefire'

Peace talks will continue in circle until US gets involved

Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine will "keep going in a circle" until the United States gets more heavily involved, security and defence analyst Professor Michael Clarke says.

Moscow demonstrated it wasn't serious by handing over their negotiating memo today, laying out their terms. 

The Ukrainians handed theirs over a week ago.

"If they wanted to negotiate something, they would have given the Ukrainians a chance to study it and think about it," he says.

It's clear the Russians are going "very slowly" with their talks and have no desire for Vladimir Putin to meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"What Putin wants is a direct meeting with Trump, not with Zelenskyy," he says.

"Because of all of that, this process will keep on going in a circle until the US gets more completely involved."

Or, he says, if the US walks away entirely. 

What came out of second round of peace talks

We've been reporting on the second round of Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Istanbul today - and we've just had a flurry of developments from both sides as their negotiators spoke to the media.

Here's what we know has come out of the talks: 

List of 'abducted' children

Ukrainian president's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said they had handed the Russian team a list of children they want returned during today's talks.

Hundreds of children were forcibly removed from Ukrainian territory by Russian forces, and they want them returned as part of a peace deal.

More prisoner swaps

The delegations agreed to exchange severely wounded prisoners of war, prisoners aged 18 to 25, and bodies of fallen soldiers, Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi.

The number of people involved is not yet specified, though.

Russia suggests short ceasefire

Putin's chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, said Russia has suggested a ceasefire for two to three days in certain areas.

He also said Russian negotiators handed a detailed memorandum to their Ukrainian counterparts and it contained steps for a full ceasefire.

The Ukrainian side said Russia rejected a full ceasefire.

Ukraine to study Russia's memorandum

Ukraine has said it will be ready to decide on a way forward once it has studied the Russian memorandum. 

Turkish president pitches meeting with Putin, Zelenskyy and Trump

Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he hopes to host Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump.

He says Turkey will take steps toward a leaders' meeting following the latest round of talks between delegations.

The president described the meeting in Istanbul as "great".

Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said earlier that Volodymyr Zelenskyy would meet Vladimir Putin if the latter were to only accept his invitation.

"If Putin says he is ready to meet tomorrow, our president Zelenskyy is ready to meet him tomorrow."

Putin's negotiator: We suggested short ceasefire in certain areas

We are also hearing from Vladimir Medinsky, who is Vladimir Putin's chief negotiator.

Speaking to reporters outside the meeting, Medinsky said Russian negotiators handed a memorandum to their Ukrainian counterparts outlining Moscow's terms for a full ceasefire - days after Ukrainian officials gave the opposing side their terms.

He said the Kremlin's memo contained steps for a full ceasefire and that Ukraine would now look at it.

Medinsky also said Moscow had suggested a ceasefire for two to three days in certain areas and that Russia will hand more than 6,000 bodies to Ukraine over the next week.

More prisoner swaps are greatest outcome of talks, says Ukraine

"The greatest outcome today is again on the humanitarian issues," says Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi, adding it is similar to the first round of talks last month.

The delegations agreed to exchange severely wounded prisoners of war, prisoners aged 18 to 25, and bodies of fallen soldiers, he says.

"There is no greater value than human life and if a meeting lets us bring back some people, any number, then we think it is a success. It is already worth it," he says.

The number of people involved is not yet specified, he adds.

Ukraine says it was prepared for the atmosphere in the room

The Ukrainian officials are asked about the "atmosphere in the room" during peace talks.

Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi says: "Believe me, we are prepared."

He says this is not their first day dealing with Russia, but they remain focused on issues, such as returning prisoners of war and children. 

"We can talk for a long time about any, you know, big issues. But in the end, the peace process starts with the basics. And the basics are the ceasefire, humanitarian confidence-building measures and the meeting of the leaders, which can kick off a real, meaningful, substantial peace process."

The official is then asked if recent strikes on Russian airbases were mentioned during peace talks. 

"The war goes on," he says. "I can only reiterate that Ukraine targets legitimate military targets in Russia."

'Ukraine remains committed to peace'

Ukrainian officials are now speaking after peace talks between the two sides ending. 

Expectations had been low for any breakthrough on ending the three-year war after a string of attacks over the weekend.

The official says Ukraine could not react to Russian proposals in Istanbul because his side only received them today. Ukraine will be ready to decide on a way forward once it has studied the Russian memorandum. 

But, he said, despite not knowing Russian demands ahead of time, the delegation was determined to still take part in talks. 

"I want to reiterate that Ukraine remains constructive and committed to peace, and therefore we are here."

Ukraine hands Russia list of 'abducted' children it wants returned as peace talks end

Ukrainian officials say hundreds of children were forcibly removed from Ukrainian territory by Russian forces, and they want them returned as part of a peace deal.

The Ukrainian delegation handed the Russian team a list of children it wants returned during today's talks, which recently concluded, according to the Ukrainian president's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak.

"These are hundreds of children who Russia has illegally deported, forcibly relocated or is holding in temporarily occupied territories," he said.

It was one of three terms laid out by Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday: "First – a full and unconditional ceasefire. Second – the release of prisoners. Third – the return of abducted children."

Moscow claims the children were moved to protect them from fighting.

Prisoner swap

Russia and Ukraine are also preparing a new exchange of prisoners of war, Zelenskyy said.

He was speaking in the Lithuanian capital, where he was attending a meeting of central European and Nordic states.

The swap will focus on the severely injured and young people, Ukraine's defence minister Rustem Umerov has said. The remains of dead soldiers will also be repatriated as part of the exchange. 

The last round of talks in Istanbul saw the two sides agree to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each, which was completed last month.

-SKY NEWS