New prisoner exchange planned after latest round of peace talks – Zelensky

VILNIUS – Russia and Ukraine are planning a new prisoner exchange following the latest round of peace talks in Istanbul, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday.

"The talks in Istanbul have just ended," he told reporters in Vilnius. "We are preparing a new release of prisoners of the war." 

The second round of direct talks between Ukraine and Russia took place in Istanbul on Monday, and the Ukrainians handed Kremlin officials a list of children illegally deported from Ukraine by Moscow since the start of the large-scale invasion and demanded their return.

According to Zelensky, if Russia turns the meeting in Istanbul into "empty talk," fresh pressure and new sanctions targeting the Kremlin's oil trade will be needed.

"We need to work on joint sanctions at the G7 level, including with the United States and with everyone in the world who wants peace. It's very, very important that each of our partners supports this exact approach," the Ukrainian leader said.

"Sanctions, including secondary ones, tariffs and price caps, can work and push Russia toward peace. Without pressure, Putin will just keep playing games with everyone who wants this war to end," he added.

The US administration has also hinted at tightening sanctions. For its part, the European Union adopted its 17th package of sanctions against the Kremlin in May, but some EU members are already calling for the adoption of the 18th package.

“THE AGGRESSOR MUST NOT RECEIVE ANY REWARD”

The Ukrainian president also briefed the Bucharest Nine and Nordic leaders in Vilnius on the situation on the front line.

"The key to lasting peace is clear, the aggressor must not receive any reward for war. Putin must get nothing that would justify his aggression. Any reward would only show him that war pays off," Zelensky underlined.

He also said he talked about Kyiv's drone attack over the weekend with the politicians gathered in Vilnius today, saying that the Operation Spider Web showed what modern war really looks like and why it's so important to stay ahead with technology.

Ukraine launched a large-scale attack against Russian military aircraft on Sunday, hitting several bases in the country, situated thousands of kilometers from the border with Ukraine. Drones reportedly hit 41 aircraft at several airfields.

"All our joint investments in drone production, all our shared battlefield experience, everything we are doing together with our partners, it's making Europe stronger," Zelensky said.

In his words, Monday's meeting also agreed on a number of joint decisions that will further strengthen Ukraine's defense.

"There will be new packages, there will be new investments in Ukrainian weapons production, especially drones. Ukraine can produce much more and we see partner investments as a way to give those partners priority access to restock their arsenals after this war," the Ukrainian leader underlined.