Overview

• The first direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in over three years ended without a ceasefire agreement, despite international mediation efforts in Istanbul.
• Both sides agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each, marking one of the largest swaps since the conflict began in 2022.
• Russian negotiators demanded Ukraine withdraw troops from occupied regions as a precondition for a ceasefire, which Kyiv rejected as unacceptable.
• Hours after the talks, a Russian drone strike hit a civilian evacuation bus in Ukraine's Sumy region, killing nine people and injuring seven, according to Ukrainian officials.
• U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to call Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday to push for a ceasefire, while European leaders discussed additional sanctions against Russia.