On Sunday, President Volodymyr Zelensky listed Ukraine’s positions for the talks that included a complete and unconditional ceasefire, the release of prisoners and the return of abducted children. Russia, so far, has rejected calls for an unconditional ceasefire and repeatedly made demands that have already been rejected by Ukraine.

Ukraine and Russia concluded the second round of talks in Istanbul. The sides agreed on a new POW exchange of under 25 years old and severely ill soldiers. Kyiv says it handed over to Moscow the list of Ukrainian children illegally deported by Russia.

A second round of direct talks in Turkey came amid stepped-up attacks from both Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine says a drone attack yesterday on Russian airbases destroyed strategic bombing aircraft. More on DW.