Russia, Ukraine agree to return thousands of war dead in brief peace talks [Video]

Delegations from Russia and Ukraine met for a second round of direct peace talks in Turkey, although low expectations for the summit seemed to be realized as they ended after just over one hour.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking at a summit of several NATO members on Monday in Vilnius, Lithuania, said a new release of prisoners of war was being prepared. Talks two weeks ago in Turkey led to the biggest exchange of prisoners since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, with hundreds freed from captivity by both sides.

The two sides also each agreed to swap 6,000 bodies of soldiers killed in action, said Vladimir Medinsky, the Russian presidential adviser who led the delegation from the Kremlin.

Meanwhile, Ukraine handed Russia an official list of children it says were forcibly deported and must be returned, said Andriy Yermak, head of Zelenskyy’s office.

The talks came in the wake of a surprise Ukraine attack on four Russian airbases thousands of kilometres apart, which destroyed …