**Putin Absent from Istanbul Talks as Ukraine-Russia Negotiations Stall**
Russian President Vladimir Putin has skipped high-level talks with Ukrainian officials in Istanbul, sending a lower-ranking delegation instead. This move comes as negotiations between the two countries have stalled over Moscow’s demands for territorial control.
The absence of Putin was notable, especially given the significance of the talks. The meeting, which took place in Istanbul, was meant to be a crucial step towards resolving the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. However, it appears that Russia’s conditions for a ceasefire are being seen as too high by Ukraine.
**European Leaders Hold Urgent Call with US President Trump**
In response to the stalled negotiations, European leaders have held an emergency call with US President Donald Trump. The group, which includes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, met with Trump for the second time in as many weeks.
The renewed outreach follows a joint summit held in Kyiv on May 10, where the same leaders met with Zelenskyy and initiated the first joint call with President Trump. That meeting concluded with a demand for a 30-day ceasefire starting May 12, and a coordinated warning of expanded sanctions if Russia failed to engage meaningfully.
**Russian Demands ‘Detached from Reality’**
Prime Minister Starmer has spoken out against Russia’s demands, labeling them as “clearly unacceptable.” He made these comments while attending a regional summit in Tirana. Starmer also noted that this is not the first time Russia has made such demands, suggesting that Moscow’s position remains unchanged.
**Prisoner Swap Deal Agreed, But Talks Stall**
Despite the stalled negotiations, there was some positive news from the Istanbul talks. A major prisoner exchange agreement was reached between Russian and Ukrainian delegations, with 1,000 prisoners being released on each side. However, this breakthrough came too late to salvage the broader negotiations.
According to sources close to the Ukrainian government, Russia’s demands for Ukraine to withdraw from four regions – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia – were seen as too high. These regions are partially occupied by Russian forces but claimed by Moscow since 2022.
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