Russia and Ukraine held their first direct peace talks in three years in Istanbul, but deep divisions and ongoing conflict tempered hopes for immediate progress toward ending the war.

The meetings, held in Istanbul and hosted by Turkey, lasted less than two hours. The only agreement reached was to exchange 1,000 prisoners as a confidence-building measure.

Türkiye is a crucial partner for the European Union, and I very much commend Türkiye's role in trying to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine,' says Chancellor Christian Stocker - Anadolu Ajans