Tom Joyner
Live reporter

Image source, Reuters

Ukrainian and Russian officials met in Istanbul today to negotiate an end to the war – though each side came out of those talks with different goals and agendas.

The meeting between a delegation from Kyiv and Moscow capped off a week of diplomacy that saw world leaders descend on Turkey for a series of talks in Ankara, Antalya and finally Istanbul. It was there that officials from Russia and Ukraine met face-to-face today for the first time in three years.

Meanwhile, European leaders gathered a thousand kilometres away in the Albanian capital of Tirana, where some of Kyiv's closest allies – France, the UK, Poland and Germany – joined US President Donald Trump on a call to discuss the progress of those negotiations.

Ukraine entered the talks in Istanbul hoping to move forward on their most urgent objective – a full and unconditional ceasefire – though that remained elusive, writes Orla Guerin, our international correspondent in Istanbul.

The two sides did agree to swap 1,000 prisoners-of-war each.

Ukraine says their next goal is for Russian President Putin to meet directly with Zelensky - though there's still no sense if or when that meeting could happen, as Russia only said it had "taken note" of the request.

We're ending our live coverage for the day, but you can go deeper on this story with the BBC's reporting from around the newsroom:

• Ukraine and Russia far apart in first direct talks, but prisoner swap agreed
• Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia

Image source, Reuters

French President Emmanuel Macron, who met with Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelensky during the European Political Community summit in Albania today, has accused Putin of "trying to buy time".

"Once again, President Putin refuses to respond to the unconditional ceasefire proposal put forward by the Americans and supported by Ukraine and the Europeans," he says this afternoon.

"By rejecting the ceasefire and dialogue with Ukraine, Russia shows it does not want peace and is merely trying to buy time by continuing the war."

Macron adds that leaders including himself, Zelensky and Starmer spoke with US President Trump over the phone while in Albania.

Image source, Reuters

In the last few moments, we've been hearing from the Ukrainian delegation following this afternoon's meeting in Istanbul.

Here's a quick reminder of a statement that was released by Vladimir Medinsky, who headed up the Russian delegation.

Medinsky, who said he was "satisfied" with the outcome of today's negotiations, said the two countries agreed on three points, which were:

1. The exchange of prisoners of war
2. That Russia has "taken notice" of Ukraine's request for direct talks to take place between Putin and Zelensky
3. And that Russia and Ukraine will present a vision of a "possible future ceasefire"

"Once this vision has been presented, we believe it would be appropriate, as also agreed to continue our negotiations," the statement continued.

Image source, Reuters

Ukraine's foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi is now taking questions from the media and is asked about whether Russia is setting "new demands" that had not been heard in previous talks.

He responds that it is "hard to tell", telling the reporter "you would need to compare".

However, he adds "my feeling is yes" that the demands went beyond what they were asking previously.

Later on, he tells the press there were a "number" of demands from Russia which were "unacceptable" for Ukraine.

Umerov says Ukraine's second objective of today's talks with the Russian delegation was to discuss a ceasefire.

He doesn't offer any concrete update on that, and says his teams will be "working on exchanging the details".

The Ukrainian defence minister then outlines his country's third objective - which is to eventually hold "high-level discussions".

He says the next step should be for a meeting between President Zelensky and President Putin.

Image source, Reuters

We are now hearing from Ukrainian defence minister Rustem Umerov who tells the press that his delegation's first priority was "people".

He calls the agreement to exchange prisoners of war an "important achievement" - adding that it shows Ukraine is focused on ending the war.

For context: Earlier we heard that Ukraine and Russia will swap 1,000 prisoners of war - the timeline has been set, but not publicised.

We're hearing that Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will soon be speaking in Istanbul following the conclusion of the talks with Russia.

It's unclear if the defence minister - who led the Ukrainian delegation - will be speaking in Ukrainian or English, but we'll be listening to the news conference and bring you any key developments here.

You'll also be able to watch live at the top of the page once it begins.

As we now have the first indications of how the meeting between Ukraine and Russia played out, let's take a look at who had a seat at the table in Istanbul:

Sitting at the centre of the room between two Turkish flags was Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan, who hosted today's talks.

Image source, EPA

We've heard a flurry of updates from both Moscow and Kyiv delegations following peace talks in Istanbul.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said:

• Ukraine and Russia have agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners of war each, noting a date has been set but not made public
• A potential meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin was discussed and a possible new round of talks will be announced soon
• A possible ceasefire, in "all modalities" was discussed

Image source, Reuters

Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation said:

• A prisoner swap will take place in the "coming days", involving "1,000 for 1,000"
• Russia has "noted" Ukraine request for direct talks between Putin and Zelensky
• Each of the two warring countries "will present its vision of a possible future ceasefire"

Image source, Reuters

We've also heard from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who says that Ukraine is "ready for the fastest possible steps to peace, and it is important the world holds strong positions".

He is in Tirana, Albania, with European leaders including Starmer, Tusk, Merz and Macron - who all spoke with US President Donald Trump.

Information is coming in thick and fast, so stay with us for the latest developments and analysis.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Reuters

Volodymyr Zelensky, who is at a European summit in Albania, says he spoke with other world leaders about the Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul, which finished a little while ago.

Posting on his Telegram account, he says France's Macron, German Chancellor Merz, and UK and Polish prime ministers Starmer and Tusk, who are all in Tirana, spoke with US President Donald Trump.

He adds that pressure on Russia must be kept up until Russia is ready to end the war.

"Ukraine is ready to take the fastest possible steps for real peace, and it is important that the world holds strong positions," he adds.

Vitaliy Shevchenko
Reporting from Istanbul

We're now hearing from the head of the Russian delegation in Istanbul, Vladimir Medinsky.

He says the Russian delegation is satisfied with the talks, and is "ready to continue contacts".

Medinsky says that the Russian side has discussed the following at the Istanbul talks:

• A large-scale prisoner swap will take place with Ukraine "in coming days", he says, noting it will be "1,000 for 1,000"
• The Ukrainian side requested direct talks between Putin and Zelensky - "we noted this request", says Medinsky
• "We have agreed that each side will present its vision of a possible future ceasefire"

Vitaliy Shevchenko
Reporting from Istanbul

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov has just been briefing Ukrainian reporters after the talks with Russia came to a close.

Umerov says Ukraine and Russia have agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners of war each.

“We have discussed the ceasefire issue. And the issue of [prisoner] swaps. The result is the swap of 1,000 persons for 1,000. That’s the result of our meeting.”

The date has been set, but it is not being made public, he says.

Umerov also says a potential meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin was discussed and that an announcement about a possible new round of talks will be announced soon.

"All modalities" of a ceasefire were also discussed, Umerov adds.

Dmytro Vlasov
BBC World Service, in Istanbul

A member of the BBC's Ukrainian team, who is with representatives of the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul, says talks with Russia are over.

He has been told that both Russia and Ukraine have agreed to swap 1,000 prisoner of wars each.

We’re continuing to see mixed reports about whether the meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul has come to an end or a pause.

A source tells Tass, Russian state news agency, that the negotiations have ended and the delegations have now dispersed while statements for the press are being prepared.

Elsewhere, there are reports that the talks have paused.

We'll bring you more on this developing story when we have more details. Stick with us.

Vitaliy Shevchenko
Reporting from Istanbul

I am now hearing reports that the talks are over, with some saying this is a “pause” and they may continue.

Scarlett Barter
BBC News, reporting from Istanbul

A Ukrainian source close to the Moscow-Kyiv peace talks under way in Istanbul tells the BBC that Russia demanded that the Americans not be present at the meeting.

• For context: Earlier, the BBC's Tom Bateman reported that the US would meet the Russian delegation separately and would not attend the Ukraine-Russia-Turkey meeting.

They say the Ukrainians "came with a clear mandate" and accuse Russia of using the meeting to "stall for time and put on a show".

"We have intelligence that the Russians are planning to go straight to the hotel after the negotiations and press conference and from there to the airport. This also indicates that they may not be serious," the source adds.

If the meeting ends with no steps towards a resolution, the Ukrainian source says: "There will be a conversation about increasing pressure until something constructive appears."

Ukraine and Russia seem willing to listen, that's a startpublished at 13:06 British Summer Time 16 May

13:06 BST 16 May

Vitaliy Shevchenko
Reporting from Istanbul

The talks between Russia and Ukraine have been going on for more than an hour - and this is an encouraging sign.

They’ve not walked out. They’re willing to listen. That’s a start.

Image source, Reuters

Let's head over to Albania briefly now, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is taking part in the European Political Community Summit in Tirana.

In a short address to European leaders - including Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron - Zelensky reaffirmed that Ukraine's number one priority is an "unconditional ceasefire".

Zelensky says if the Russian delegation cannot agree to one, then "it is clear Putin does not want to end the war".

The Ukrainian president urged a strong reaction from world leaders if talks in Istanbul fail, adding that the US should stay "as coordinated as possible".

His remarks come a day after he visited President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara, Turkey.

Emily Wither
Reporting from Istanbul

Image source, EPA

Throughout the war Turkey has navigated a delicate balancing act.

Turkey is one of the few countries that has preserved good relations with both Ukraine and Russia. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly offered to host these talks between Moscow and Kyiv.

Turkish government officials say they operate a consciously “360 degree” foreign policy - a pragmatic approach in a sometimes challenging region; projecting the country as a diplomatic player that can speak to all, but that is beholden to none.

President Erdogan hopes hosting the peace talks, and potentially having a shot at brokering a deal, will catapult Turkey’s international standing, and help reinforce his strong-man image domestically.

Turkey was the last location where direct talks took place between the Russians and the Ukrainians in 2022.

Later that year the Turks brokered the Black Sea Grain Initiative - an agreement aimed to ensure the safe export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.

Turkey has also mediated prisoner exchanges throughout the Ukraine war and remains one of the few countries where Russians can still transfer money and conduct business.

In Ukraine, Turkey, which has Nato’s second largest army, has indicated it is open to deploying troops as part of a potential peacekeeping force, while Turkish companies are lining up to rebuild the war torn country.

A step forward, but little expectation of a breakthroughpublished at 12:10 British Summer Time 16 May

12:10 BST 16 May

Orla Guerin
Reporting from Istanbul

Opening the meeting, in Istanbul, the Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said it was critically important that a ceasefire happened as soon as possible.

He said more lives were being lost every day, and both sides must take advantage of the opportunity provided by these talks.

There were no handshakes between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations, and there’s little expectation of any major breakthrough.

But this is a step forward, and it has - at least - symbolic value.

Before the meeting, Ukraine said its priority was to achieve a lasting unconditional ceasefire, and it was ready for peace.

Half the Ukrainian side are in camouflage military fatigues.