ISTANBUL, June 3, 2025 – As Russia and Ukraine concluded their latest round of peace talks in Istanbul on June 2, hopes for a breakthrough in the three-year war were dashed by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unyielding demands, which critics liken to imperial decrees reminiscent of a Tsar. The negotiations, held at the historic Ciragan Palace and mediated by Turkey, ended after just over an hour with no ceasefire agreement, only a commitment to another prisoner swap. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Western leaders accused Putin of stalling, while his conditions—described as a call for Ukraine’s capitulation—continue to obstruct any path to peace.
According to sources familiar with the talks, Putin’s demands include Ukraine’s permanent neutrality, a written pledge from Western powers to halt NATO’s eastward expansion, the annexation of four Ukrainian regions (Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson) plus Crimea, and the lifting of Western sanctions on Russia. Additional conditions involve demilitarizing Ukraine, restricting its armed forces, and ensuring protections for Russian-speaking populations. These terms, reiterated by Putin’s aide Vladimir Medinsky during the talks, echo Moscow’s long-standing goal of neutralizing Ukraine’s sovereignty and blocking its NATO aspirations.
Zelenskyy, speaking in Vilnius, Lithuania, on June 2, rejected these demands as “unacceptable,” emphasizing Ukraine’s need for robust security guarantees and a full Russian withdrawal. Kyiv’s peace proposal, shared with Russia and the U.S., calls for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, the return of deported Ukrainian children, and prisoner exchanges, with no concessions on NATO membership or territorial integrity. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Moscow of delaying by withholding its promised memorandum of terms, stalling meaningful dialogue.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has pushed for a swift resolution, expressed frustration with Putin’s tactics, posting on Truth Social, “Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!” Despite Trump’s pressure, analysts argue Putin is exploiting the talks to buy time for military gains. The Institute for the Study of War noted on June 1 that Russia’s massive drone attack on Ukraine—472 drones, the largest since 2022—signals an intent to escalate rather than negotiate.
Critics, including Ukrainian MP Oleksandr Merezhko, view Putin’s strategy as a charade to avoid sanctions while pursuing a summer offensive. “Putin is not interested in negotiations; he hopes to break Ukraine militarily,” Merezhko told ABC News. Posts on X reflect similar skepticism, with users calling Putin’s demands a “call for surrender” rather than peace.
The talks yielded a minor success: an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war, building on a similar swap from May 16. However, with Russia controlling nearly a fifth of Ukraine and both sides accusing each other of violating past truces, trust remains elusive. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, chairing the talks, urged both parties to prioritize peace, but Putin’s refusal to meet Zelenskyy directly—dismissing him as an illegitimate leader—underscores the diplomatic chasm. As Russia’s economy strains under sanctions and Ukraine bolsters its drone capabilities, the war’s end seems distant, wrapped in Putin’s imperial vision.
