On June 2, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine and Russia are preparing a new large-scale prisoner exchange, following a second round of peace talks held in Istanbul. The proposed swap is expected to involve between 1,000 and 1,200 prisoners, including severely wounded individuals and younger detainees.
While this marks a significant humanitarian step, the talks yielded little progress toward a broader ceasefire. Ukraine had proposed a 30-day nationwide ceasefire, which Russia declined, instead suggesting a limited, localized truce to retrieve fallen soldiers. Ukraine also submitted a list of deported children, and although Russia agreed to help reunite some families, it accused Kyiv of politicizing the matter.
The discussions occurred against a backdrop of intensified military action, with Ukraine launching a major drone attack on five distant Russian airfields—reportedly damaging over 40 warplanes—and Russia responding with its largest drone assault on Ukraine since 2022, involving 472 drones.
Ukraine has proposed another round of negotiations later in June, with Turkey continuing to position itself as a mediator. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan emphasized that his country remains a suitable host for further peace efforts.
