Summary

  • Ukraine and Russia have agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners of war each after the first face-to-face talks in three years

  • The date for the transfer has been set, but is not being made public, Ukraine's defence minister says

  • Ukraine also requested direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin - Moscow says it "noted" this request

  • Turkish officials, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, facilitated the peace talks - which both sides said included some discussion of a possible ceasefire

  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urges a "strong reaction" if no ceasefire deal is reached following the talks

  • Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump says he wants to meet Putin "as soon as we can"

Live Reporting

Edited by Johanna Chisholm, with Vitaliy Shevchenko and Orla Guerin in Istanbul

  1. Analysis

    In the same room, but Ukraine and Russia remain quite far apart

    Vitaliy Shevchenko
    Reporting from Istanbul

    Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (C) speaking at the meeting of Ukrainian (L) and Russian (R) delegations at the Presidential Office in Istanbul.EPA

    The peace talks in Turkey today between Russia and Ukraine are under way. It's the first time in three years delegations from the two countries will be in the same room.

    However, their respective positions seem to remain quite far apart.

    Zelensky says his team's mandate is focused on ceasing fire immediately, the Russians said yesterday their focus is on long term peace and removing the "root causes of this crisis".

    Translated from Kremlin-speak - this means they’re not really interested in a ceasefire, they’re interested in addressing what started this war from the Kremlin’s point of view – the very existence of Ukraine as a sovereign state.

    Interestingly the head of the Russian delegation said yesterday that Russia was prepared to discuss compromises – what that means exactly is not clear.

    Hopefully it’s a step forward and a sign of a bit of flexibility on the Russian side. However, he is the only person from the Russian delegation who has mentioned compromises.

    Everybody else is sticking to their original demands, including no Nato membership for Ukraine and Russian control of at least five Ukrainian regions.

    All of which is completely unacceptable for Zelensky.

  2. Ukraine and Russian delegations in the same room

    Row of men sat at a table with Ukraine's flag behind them.Dmytro Vlasov/BBC

    Ukraine's delegation, including the country's defence chief, is at the face-to-face talks

    A large table with people sat on chairs with microphones, Ukraine, Turkey and Russia flags behind them.Dmytro Vlasov/BBC

    Both the Ukrainian and Russian delegations are in the room, with the Turkish officials sat on the table between them

    Group of men and women sat on a long table with microphones in front of them.Dmytro Vlasov/BBC

    The Russian delegation is sat opposite the Ukrainians

  3. Russia and Ukraine face-to-face talks begin in Istanbul
    Breaking

    Talks between Russia and Ukraine are now under way in Istanbul, representatives from Turkey are also present at the meeting.

    Our cameraman, who was in the room as the talks began, says there was no handshake between the two sides.

    Stay with us and we'll bring you the key developments as we get them.

    Meeting beginsReuters

  4. Rubio meets with national security advisers from UK, France and Germany

    Tom Bateman
    Travelling with Marco Rubio in Istanbul

    Rubio is now meeting national security advisers from the E3 countries – UK, France and Germany, at a hotel in Istanbul.

    The talks are with Jonathan Powell from the UK, Gunther Sautter from Germany, and Emmanual Bonne from France.

    President Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine Gen. Keith Kellogg also entered the room as the press pool were there at the start.

    We are told the meeting is to discuss Iran, as well as Ukraine.

  5. Kremlin hopes Russia-Ukraine talks to start shortly

    Vitaliy Shevchenko
    Reporting from Istanbul

    The Kremlin hopes that Russia-Ukraine talks will start soon, spokesman Dmitry Peskov says.

    The Russian team of negotiators are in constant touch with the president, Peskov adds.

    On Rubio's remarks that it will take a Putin-Trump meeting to resolve this, Peskov says: "Of course, contacts between Putin and Trump are very important in the context of Ukraine settlement.

    "We agree with this point, of course. Its importance is difficult to overestimate."

  6. 'Killing needs to stop,' Rubio says after trilateral meeting in Istanbul

    Tom Bateman
    Travelling with Marco Rubio in Istanbul

    The meeting has now ended between US State Department official Michael Anton and Russian official Vladimir Medinsky.

    We've also heard some more about the trilateral talks between Ukraine, US and Turkey.

    US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Istanbul a short while ago.

    Marco Rubio's spokesperson Tammy Bruce says the three delegations discussed the importance of seeking a peaceful end to the Russia-Ukraine war.

    Rubio reiterated the US's position that "the killing needs to stop".

    Rubio facing Turkish foreign minister both with arms folded in conversation.EPA

  8. Starmer says Putin is not serious about peace

    Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks to British and Albanian troops about their involvement with training Ukrainian troops under Operation Interflex, during a visit to Berzite Military Museum in TiranaPA Media

    Keir Starmer accuses Vladimir Putin of "dragging his heels".

    Speaking from Tirana, Albania, after peace talks failed to materialise between Ukraine and Russia yesterday, Starmer says

    After what "we saw yesterday and overnight is yet more evidence that Putin is not serious about peace".

  9. Trilateral talks - who attended?

    Ukraine's Andrii Sybiha, America's Marco Rubio and Turkey's Hakan FidanEPA

    Ukraine's Andrii Sybiha, America's Marco Rubio and Turkey's Hakan Fidan arrive at trilateral talks

    As we wait for Russian and Ukrainian delegations to meet in Istanbul, we can bring you more details on who attended talks between Ukraine, US and Turkey:

    In the US delegation:

    • Secretary of State Marco Rubio
    • US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack
    • Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg

    For Ukraine:

    • Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov
    • Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak
    • Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha

    The meeting is being hosted by Turkey, and the country's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is at the table for talks.

  10. Ukraine’s ceasefire proposal left on the shelf

    James Waterhouse
    Ukraine correspondent, in Kyiv

    Zelensky holding microphone.Reuters

    As little as a week ago, Ukraine’s European allies gave Russia an ultimatum: "Accept a 30-day ceasefire or else".

    They threatened more military aid for Kyiv and further sanctions for Moscow if a pause in fighting wasn’t agreed.

    It was a threat that had the blessing of Donald Trump, but the Kremlin didn’t bite.

    Russia instead proposed these Turkish talks "without condition", but all sides acknowledge that the absence of Vladimir Putin, and subsequently Donald Trump, means little progress is likely.

    Despite meeting his Turkish counterpart, President Erdogan, Volodymyr Zelensky has been left isolated in these latest round of peace talks. Trump even claimed both he and Putin are needed for these negotiations to succeed.

    The European Union might be preparing new sanctions for Russia, as it promised, but for Ukraine this invasion simply continues, along with these peace talks devoid of progress.

  11. Analysis

    Trump does not chastise Putin, he appears to reward him

    Danny Aeberhard
    Europe analyst, BBC World Service

    Putin.EPA

    The pattern is familiar.

    When President Donald Trump insists on a 30-day ceasefire, Ukraine shows willing. Russia does not.

    When Trump insists Ukraine attend peace talks in Turkey, President Volodymyr Zelensky heads there. President Putin does not.

    Trump - who has repeatedly berated Zelensky, a US ally - does not chastise the Russia leader.

    Instead, he appears to reward him. Trump declared that nothing would happen, regarding the conflict in Ukraine, until he himself meets Putin.

    That, seemingly cutting out Ukraine and its European allies, is exactly how Putin - the man who started the war - would like things to be.

  12. Meeting between US, Ukraine and Turkey starts in Istanbul

    Tom Bateman
    Travelling with Marco Rubio in Istanbul

    Turkish Foreign Minister Press Office shows US Secretary of State Marco Rubio attending a meeting with members of the Ukrainian delegation.EPA

    The trilateral meeting between the US, Ukraine and Turkey has started at the Dolmabahce Palace.

    Seated next to Marco Rubio is Donald Trump's Ukraine envoy Gen Keith Kellogg.

    Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha as well as Andriy Yermak, head of Zelensky’s presidential office, are leading the Ukraine delegation.

    Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan is hosting in the centre.

  13. Trump wants meeting with Putin 'as soon as he can set it up'
    Breaking

    Trump speaking in at a white conference desk in the UAEReuters

    We're hearing now from US President Donald Trump.

    On the Russia-Ukraine peace talks he says "it's time for us to just do it. We're going to get it done".

    He adds that he wants a meeting with Putin “as soon as we can set it up".

    Trump suggested yesterday that significant progress in peace talks was unlikely until he and Putin met in person.

    As a reminder, the US president is on his final day of his trip to the Middle East, and has spoken at a Business Council event in the United Arab Emirates.

  14. US official to hold meeting with Russian delegation ahead of Moscow-Kyiv talks, BBC understands

    Tom Bateman
    Travelling with Marco Rubio in Istanbul

    My understanding is now that the US official Michael Anton – a senior aide to Rubio - will not be in the Russia-Ukraine-Turkey meeting at lunchtime.

    He will meet Medinsky from the Russian delegation, separately, first.

    Earlier, we reported that Michael Anton was expected to represent the US in talks with the Russia delegation.

  15. Ukraine delegation met US, UK, German and French officials in Istanbul

    This morning in Istanbul the Ukrainian national security advisor Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov met national security advisors from Britain, the US, Germany and France.

    This took place ahead of any Ukrainian and Russian meeting.

  16. Ukraine says 73 drones shot down, but no missile strikes reported overnight

    Chris Partridge
    BBC News Weapons Analyst

    Soldiers standing in front of a military vehicle in uniform, flash of fire coming from the vehicle upwards.Reuters

    Ukraine says it shot down 73 drones using a combination of aircraft and mobile fire groups on the ground

    The Ukrainian Air Force says it has lost another one of its western-supplied F-16s, with the pilot reported to have ejected safely and rescued.

    The jet was said to have been repelling an air attack on the country, and had already destroyed three aerial targets and was engaging a fourth with cannon (a 20mm six-barrel Gatling gun).

    Ukraine said overnight it had shot down 73 drones using a combination of aircraft and mobile fire groups, ground based anti-aircraft artillery units. Areas targeted included the east, north, south and centre of the country.

    A further 36 “imitator” drones – drones which are not fitted with warheads but are designed to spoof, confuse and overwhelm air defences – are said to have been lost with “no negative consequences”.

    No ballistic or cruise missiles are reported to have been launched in this overnight strike.

  17. Key timings for Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul

    As we've reported, Turkey says talks between Ukraine and Russia will take place this morning in Istanbul, the Turkish foreign ministry has shared some more details about those meetings.

    Here are the key timings we know so far:

    • A trilateral meeting between Ukrainian, Turkish and American officials in Istanbul will take place at 10:45 local time (08:45 BST), including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio
    • Also in Istanbul, Russian and Ukrainian delegations will meet alongside Turkish and US officials at 12:30 local time (10:30 BST)

  18. Woman dies in Russian drone attack on Ukrainian city

    Vitaliy Shevchenko
    Reporting from Istanbul

    As everyone is waiting for the Russia-Ukraine talks to resume in Turkey, Russian attacks continue on Ukraine.

    At 08:00 local time (06:00 BST) a 55-year-old woman was killed and four men wounded in the Russian drone strike on Kupyansk, in the north-eastern Kharkiv region, local authorities say.

    They were all workers of the local utility services, the Kharkiv region administration chief Oleh Synehubov adds.

  19. Michael Anton to represent US in Russia-Ukraine talks

    Tom Bateman
    Travelling with Marco Rubio in Istanbul

    US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce tells me that Michael Anton, US director for policy planning, will represent the United States in talks with the Russia delegation.

  20. Russia-Ukraine meeting confirmed including US official, but not Rubio
    Breaking

    Tom Bateman
    Travelling with Marco Rubio in Istanbul

    Now the Turks have confirmed the Russia-Ukraine meeting is due to happen here this morning, there is expected to be a US official in the room - likely to be one of Rubio’s aides, but not Rubio himself.

    It’s all a sign of how at each stage the Americans have made demands, only to see Putin delay and move the goalposts.

    We’ve gone from Trump’s early call for an immediate month-long truce which hasn’t got close to materialising, to Trump now increasingly vocally calling for a meeting with the Russian president.

    Rubio says that’s the only way to get a “breakthrough”.

    Such a meeting would help Putin; he wants to nurture the image to his population of Russia normalising ties with the US while his war goes on. And he has the Trump administration very publicly calling for it without apparent conditions.