1,195 days into war, Russia-Ukraine peace talks yield no major breakthrough: What does Putin want?

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which began over three years ago, shows no signs of resolution. The representatives of the two countries met on Monday, June 2, for a second round of peace talks but ended the discussion with no major breakthrough. While Russia rejected Ukraine's proposal of an “unconditional ceasefire”, the two countries agreed to swap prisoners of the war and bodies of 12,000 soldiers.

The talks unfolded a day after a string of stunning long-range attacks by both sides, with Ukraine launching a devastating drone assault on Russian air bases and Russia hurling its largest drone attack of the war against Ukraine.

During Monday’s just over an hour talks in Istanbul of Turkey, both Russia and Ukraine agreed to exchange all sick and severely wounded prisoners of war, as well as those under the age of 25.

WHAT DOES VLADIMIR PUTIN WANT TO HALT HOSTILITIES?

1. During the second round of peace talks, the Russian delegation proposed a two- or three-day truce in certain areas on the front line. It did not provide any further details on the areas it was seeking peace in.
2. While the peace proposals from both the countries have not been made public, according to Russian state-run media, Moscow has reiterated its demand of Ukrainian military's withdrawal from its four partly occupied regions in the south-east. Russia has also demanded demobilisation of its soldiers.
3. In addition, Russia is seeking international recognition of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, along with the annexed territory of Crimea.
4. Other demands include no membership to Ukraine in any military alliances like NATO.
5. Limiting the size of the Ukrainian army.
6. Moscow demands to establish Russian as an official language in Ukraine on par with Ukrainian.
7. The Russian memorandum presses Ukraine to halt its mobilisation efforts and freeze Western arms deliveries, conditions were suggested earlier by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
8. Russia demands that Ukraine end martial law and hold elections.
9. The last demand is lifting of international sanctions on Russia in return for ending hostilities. Only after these demands are met could Moscow sign a comprehensive peace treaty.

Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who led the Ukrainian delegation, told reporters that Kyiv officials would need a week to review the document and decide on a response. Ukraine proposed further talks on a date between June 20 and June 30, he said.

Ukraine and the West have previously rejected all those demands from Moscow.

(With agency inputs)