**Ukraine and Russia Hold Brief Peace Talks in Istanbul**
The Ukrainian and Russian delegations met for a third round of peace talks in Istanbul on July 23. The meeting, which lasted less than an hour, was the latest effort to bring an end to the ongoing conflict between the two countries.
According to Umerov, a member of the Ukrainian delegation, the two sides agreed to conduct a humanitarian exchange involving over 1,200 people. This is seen as a positive development, particularly given President Zelensky’s previous emphasis on returning abducted Ukrainian children and achieving an immediate ceasefire.
**Russia Proposes Working Groups, But No Breakthrough**
Vladimir Medinsky, Putin’s aide and head of the Russian delegation, proposed forming three working groups to address political, military, and humanitarian issues. However, he also stated that a meeting between leaders would require first determining the topics for discussion – a condition that could potentially delay any face-to-face talks.
The Ukrainian delegation, which included Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak and First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier in Ankara before heading to the talks in Istanbul.
**Talks Characterized by Distance Between Demands**
Despite the restart of negotiations after more than three years without formal talks, the two sides have made limited progress. While Ukraine has proposed a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, which is also supported by the US, Russia has so far rejected this proposal.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Moscow’s war goals remain unchanged, reflecting Russia’s reluctance to concede from its maximalist demands. This distance between demands has characterized the peace talks, with both sides struggling to find common ground.
**US Warning Gives New Energy to Talks**
The latest round of talks was given new energy after US President Donald Trump’s warning on July 14 that he would impose “severe” tariffs on Russia unless it agrees to end the war within 50 days. However, despite this added pressure, no breakthrough has been reported.
**Commentary and Analysis**
While the agreement to conduct a humanitarian exchange is a positive development, it remains unclear whether this will lead to any meaningful progress in the peace talks. The fact that Russia continues to reject Ukraine’s proposal for an unconditional ceasefire suggests that significant differences remain between the two sides’ demands.
The US warning has added pressure on Moscow to reconsider its position, but it remains to be seen whether this will lead to any fundamental changes in Russia’s approach to the conflict. For now, the peace talks continue, with both sides working towards a resolution – but progress is slow and uncertain.
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