Thu Jul 24 12:13:29 UTC 2025: ## Summary:

Despite ongoing talks in Istanbul and subsequent prisoner exchanges, the war between Russia and Ukraine continues with no sign of de-escalation. Russia is focusing on creating “buffer zones” along the border, while both sides continue aerial attacks. While prisoner exchanges have resulted in the return of over 1,000 Ukrainian prisoners, the parties remain far apart on a ceasefire and a potential meeting between Presidents Putin and Zelenskyy. Attacks continue on both sides, with civilian casualties reported in Ukraine and Russia.

## News Article:

**Istanbul Talks Fail to Halt Fighting as Russia Focuses on ‘Buffer Zones’**

**ISTANBUL/KYIV -** Despite a third round of peace talks held in Istanbul, the war between Russia and Ukraine continues unabated, with no breakthrough achieved on a ceasefire or a path towards de-escalation. While the talks yielded further prisoner exchanges, the conflict rages on, now in its fourth year.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated Russia’s commitment to the war effort, stating that Russian forces are working to establish “buffer zones” along the border with Ukraine. This announcement came shortly after a brief 40-minute meeting between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul on Wednesday.

The Istanbul talks primarily focused on prisoner swaps. Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation, confirmed an exchange of approximately 250 prisoners per side at the Ukraine-Belarus border. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the exchange, noting that it marked the ninth stage of an agreed-upon process and had resulted in the return of over 1,000 Ukrainian prisoners. “For a thousand families, this means the joy of embracing their loved ones again,” Zelenskyy said.

However, the two sides remain deeply divided on key issues, including a comprehensive ceasefire and a proposed face-to-face meeting between Presidents Putin and Zelenskyy.

Following the Istanbul meeting, both Russia and Ukraine continued their aerial assaults. Zelenskyy reported that Russia launched 103 attack drones and four missiles overnight, resulting in three deaths in the Kharkiv region and multiple injuries in Cherkasy, including a child. He emphasized that these attacks occurred despite Ukraine’s reiteration of a proposal for an immediate ceasefire during the Istanbul talks.

Retaliatory attacks were also reported in Russia. Emergency officials in the Krasnodar region confirmed that debris from a falling drone struck and killed a woman in the Adler district near Sochi, while another woman sustained serious injuries.

Despite the lack of progress, Zelenskyy affirmed Ukraine’s commitment to diplomacy while placing the onus on Russia to end the war: “We will make every effort to ensure that diplomacy works, but it is Russia that must end this war.”

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