Delegates from Russia and Ukraine have held peace talks in Turkey, according to Russia’s state-owned press agency, TASS. Meanwhile, at home, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is facing the first major protest against his government since the war began. Follow the latest.
Wednesday 23 July 2025 20:42, UK
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Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed Ukraine received another group of soldiers freed from Russian captivity this afternoon.
The exchange was part of a series of handovers agreed during the last round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul in June.
Today’s exchange saw seriously ill and severely wounded soldiers returned, Zelenskyy said, adding that more than 1,000 Ukrainians had been released in total thanks to the agreements made in Istanbul last month.
“For a thousand families, this is the joy of embracing their loved ones again. I thank everyone who worked on this.”
Zelennskyy added it was important such exchanges continue. He did not mention today’s peace talks or the proposal of further exchanges raised between the delegations there.
A prisoner swap was carried out today between Russia and Ukraine while delegations from both countries carried out peace talks in Istanbul, Russian state media reports, citing the country’s defence ministry.
Earlier, Vladimir Medinsky, the presidential aide leading Russia’s delegation at talks, said a swap of 1,200 bodies of soldiers had been carried out.
He also said further exchanges, including those of detained civilians as well as the bodies of soldiers, were discussed during talks.
Both delegations from Ukraine and Russia are beginning to reveal what was discussed during peace talks today in Istanbul.
Here’s what’s been announced so far:
Ukraine and Russia agreed to another round of prisoner exchanges during their latest round of peace talks in Istanbul, Russian state media says.
The exchange will include both military prisoners and civilians, it adds.
The latest round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul is now over, according to Russian state media.
Earlier, the two heads of the delegations, Russia’s Vladimir Medinsky and Ukraine’s Rustem Umerov, reportedly held a one-on-one meeting.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he will propose a new bill to the Ukrainian parliament in response to criticism over his controversial anti-corruption bill.
Thousands gathered for protests in Kyiv last night against the new bill, which tightens oversight of two anti-corruption agencies.
In his nightly video address, Zelenskyy said criticisms of the bill were “not falling on deaf ears” and said he would propose a new bill that “will ensure the strength of the rule of law system”.
He said there will be “no Russian influence or interference” and that “all the norms for the independence of anti-corruption institutions will be in place”.
Has Zelenskyy’s position been undermined?
Fabrice Pothier, former NATO director of policy planning, says the anti-corruption bill has played right into Russia’s hands.
“I don’t know if he’s weakened, but clearly this raises alarm bells, not only across Ukraine and the population, but also across European capitals,” he tells chief presenter Mark Austin.
“Zelenskyy has basically turned one of the biggest political weapons he has against Russia, which is the rule of law and the fight against corruption.
“He has done that against him and his own population. So I think it’s a good sign that he’s now doing a U-turn and is introducing a bill to undo the damage that he’s done over the past few days.
“But the damage will still be there, and he’s going to play in the hands of the Russian narrative and the MAGA narrative.”
We’re now hearing from Russian state media agency Tass that the wider peace talks have begun between the two delegations in Istanbul.
Earlier, the two heads of the delegations, Russia’s Vladimir Medinsky and Ukraine’s Rustem Umerov, reportedly held a one-on-one meeting.
Russia’s Vladimir Medinsky and Ukraine’s Rustem Umerov have held a one-on-one meeting in Istanbul, Russian state news agency Interfax says.
The two men are leading the delegations from their respective countries at the third round of peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv.
EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has reportedly demanded answers from Volodymyr Zelenskyy over Ukraine’s anti-corruption bill.
Passed last night, the bill, which tightens oversight of two anti-corruption agencies, has sparked the first major demonstration against Zelenskyy’s government since Russia’s invasion began in 2022.
Top EU leadership has now urged Zelenskyy to prove he is still committed to European democratic values, with the bill undermining Ukraine’s bid to join the bloc.
Guillaume Mercier, European Commission spokesperson, told POLITICO that, in a call with Zelenskyy, von der Leyen “conveyed her strong concerns about the consequences of the amendments, and she requested the Ukrainian government for explanations”.
“The respect for the rule of law and the fight against corruption are core elements of the European Union. As a candidate country, Ukraine is expected to uphold these standards fully. There cannot be a compromise,” Mercier added.
In another explicit warning, Germany’s foreign minister Johann Wadephul wrote on X on that “limiting the independence of anti-corruption agencies hampers Ukraine’s way towards the EU”.
The third round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia are set to get under way shortly in Turkey.
A Turkish foreign ministry source said the meeting – at Ciragan Palace in Istanbul – is expected to start at 5pm UK time.
Previous talks on 16 May and 2 June led to the exchange of thousands of prisoners of war and the remains of dead soldiers.
Those meetings lasted less than three hours in total, and made no breakthrough towards ending the war.
And as a reminder, the Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov, speaking yesterday, said there is “no reason to expect any breakthroughs in the category of miracles”.
We’ll bring you any news we get from the talks right here, so stay tuned.
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