ISTANBUL. Russia presented tough conditions at peace talks with Ukraine on Monday, demanding Kyiv give up more territory and limit its army, according to a memorandum reported by Russian media.
The terms, outlined during brief negotiations in Istanbul, showed Moscow’s refusal to compromise on its goals despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s calls to end the “bloodbath” in Ukraine. Kyiv rejected the Russian demands, calling them a surrender.
The delegations met for just an hour, marking only the second round of direct negotiations since March 2022. They agreed to exchange more prisoners of war and repatriate the bodies of 12,000 dead soldiers, but no progress was made on a proposed ceasefire, which Kyiv and its Western allies continue to demand.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan praised the meeting and said he hopes to bring together Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Trump for further discussions in Turkey. But Russia insisted it wants a long-term settlement, not just a pause in the fighting, while Ukraine accused Putin of lacking any interest in real peace. Trump has warned that the U.S. could withdraw from mediation efforts if the two sides do not make progress.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, who led Kyiv’s delegation, said Ukraine will review the Russian document, though he gave no immediate comment. He said Ukraine wants more talks this month, but only a direct meeting between Zelenskiy and Putin can resolve the core disputes.
Zelenskiy said Ukraine provided Russia with a list of 400 children it says were abducted to Russia, but Moscow agreed to consider returning just 10 of them. Russia claims it took children from war zones for their safety.
The Russian memorandum, published by Interfax, demands international recognition of Russia’s control over Crimea and four other regions of Ukraine, plus the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from these areas. It also calls for Ukraine to stay neutral, block NATO membership, protect Russian speakers, make Russian an official language and ban Nazi glorification. Ukraine dismisses the Nazi claim as absurd.
Russia offered two ceasefire options, both seen as unacceptable by Ukraine. The first would require Ukraine to pull out completely from the occupied regions. In contrast, the second option would force Kyiv to halt military redeployments, cease foreign military aid, lift martial law, and hold elections within 100 days.
Russian envoy Vladimir Medinsky also proposed a short ceasefire in specific frontline areas to recover dead soldiers.
A copy of Ukraine’s own peace proposal, seen by Reuters, rejects any restrictions on its military or recognition of Russian-occupied areas, and demands reparations from Moscow.
The conflict has intensified in recent weeks. Russia launched its biggest drone attacks of the war in May and has been advancing on the battlefield faster than at any point in six months. On Sunday, Ukraine said it had sent 117 drones to strike Russian long-range bombers at airfields in Siberia and the far north. Satellite images suggested the attacks caused significant damage.
Ukraine did not inform the U.S. or the UK before the operation. Zelenskiy said the raid showed Ukraine’s determination and ability to keep fighting.
“Ukraine says that we are not going to surrender and are not going to give in to any ultimatums,” Zelenskiy said. “But we do not want to fight, we do not want to demonstrate our strength – we demonstrate it because the enemy does not want to stop.”
