Recent peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine lasted less than two hours, resulting in an agreement to exchange prisoners of war, but failed to establish a ceasefire between the two nations.

A Ukrainian soldier, identified by the call sign "Corsair," expressed skepticism about the outcome of the discussions. He told the Associated Press, "I don’t think they will agree on anything concrete, because summer is the best time for war. The enemy is trying to constantly escalate the situation." Despite this outlook, Corsair noted that many of his fellow soldiers remain hopeful for peace by the end of the year, although they acknowledge it may be fragile.

In the lead-up to the peace talks, Ukrainian officials consulted with national security advisers from the United States, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The American delegation was headed by retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, who served as a special envoy to Ukraine and Russia during the Trump administration. Ukrainian representation included Rustem Umerov and Andriy Yermak, the chief of the presidential office.

A separate trilateral meeting was conducted involving Turkey, the U.S., and Ukraine. Notable attendees included U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Kellogg.

On Thursday, Rubio stated that any real progress towards resolution might only be achieved through a direct meeting between former President Trump and Russian President Putin.