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Ukraine: Nine Killed in Russian Drone Strike as Countries Remain Distant in Negotiations

Published MAY 17 2025

Ukraine: Nine Killed in Russian Drone Strike as Countries Remain Distant in Negotiations

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Above: Delegations arriving for Russia-Ukraine peace talks at Dolmabahçe Office on May 16, 2025, in Istanbul, Turkey. Image credit: Berkman Ulutin/dia images/Contributor via Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-Ukraine narrative

Russia made a number of unacceptable demands in negotiations on Friday. They are completely unrealistic and put forward conditions that were never discussed when the countries last negotiated.

Ukrainska Pravda

Pro-Russia narrative

Russia is generally satisfied with the first day of negotiations. Both sides have presented their visions for a ceasefire, allowing talks to progress. Ukraine's request for a leaders' meeting is under consideration.

Metaculus Prediction

Public Figures

Rustem Umerov

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Vladimir Putin

The Controversies

Will Ukraine Join NATO?

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The Russia-Ukraine War

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Establishment split

CRITICAL

PRO

Trump says he'll meet with Putin on Ukraine war "as soon as we can," amid low hopes for Ukraine-Russia talks

CBS NewsNOV 2025

The Guardian view on Russia-Ukraine talks: a performance for the US president | Editorial

GuardianMAY 2025

Week of geopolitical poker over Ukraine ends with no endgame in sight

GuardianMAY 2025

Russian and Ukrainian officials meet for first direct talks since 2022

GuardianMAY 2025

Ukraine and Russia to hold direct talks in Istanbul but hopes low for progress –live

GuardianMAY 2025

Ukraine war briefing: Putin stays home and fires a general instead of peace talks

GuardianMAY 2025

Trump Wants To Meet Putin ‘As Soon As We Can Set It Up’

Ukraine: A whiplash week of diplomacy leaves Kyiv much where it started

A timeline of the Trump administration’s evolving approach Russia-Ukraine peace talks

The outlook for Ukraine-Russia talks fades, as Putin skips out

Beware unkempt tourists: Latvia tells citizens how to spot Russian spies

GuardianMAY 2025

Ukraine war live: First direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv in three years set to begin in Turkey

GuardianMAY 2025

Ukraine and Russia far apart in direct talks, but prisoner swap agreed

Ukraine and Russia far apart in direct talks, but prisoner swap agreed.

Ukraine and Russia agreed to a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner swap the wars largest during their first direct peace talks in three years, in Istanbul. Kyiv is now pushing for a Zelenskyy-Putin summit and a clear ceasefire plan.

Russia & Ukraine held first direct peace talks since 2022 in Istanbul. Agreed on largest prisoner swap:1,000 each Russia rejected Ukraines 30-day ceasefire proposal Ukraine slams Moscows low-level delegation, calls for ZelenskyyPutin summit #Russ...

Putin made mistake by sending low-level delegation to Turkey, says Mark Rutte – video

GuardianMAY 2025

BBC News - Ukraine and Russia far apart in direct talks, but prisoner swap agreed

Russia’s top negotiator outlines key outcomes of Istanbul talks (FULL STATEMENT)

Pope Leo Offers Vatican to Putin, Zelensky for Talks

NewsweekMAY 2025

Russia, Ukraine Hold First Peace Talks in Over 3 Years: Live Updates

NewsweekMAY 2025

Trump Gives Update on Putin Meeting

NewsweekMAY 2025

Ukraine Loses Another F-16 Fighter Jet

NewsweekMAY 2025

Ukrainian negotiator made ‘fantasy’ claim that Russia plans to attack NATO state – source

Russia and Ukraine agreed to future talks – Turkish FM

Moscow and Kiev exchange remains of fallen soldiers – MP

Topics discussed during Istanbul talks revealed

Any Ukraine truce must support lasting peace – senior Russian diplomat

Russia-Ukraine talks conclude

Russia and Ukraine start peace talks in Türkiye

Ukraine truce must support lasting peace – senior Russian diplomat

Ukraine admits to losing third F-16

France leading West’s ‘party of war’ – Russia

In a haze of confusion, Ukraine and Russia finally begin direct talks after false start

Macron, Starmer Blast ‘Unacceptable’ Russian Stance In Talks, Zelensky Urges More Sanctions

InfoWarsMAY 2025

Russia & Ukraine to Continue Peace Negotiations After Leaders Failed to Meet

InfoWarsMAY 2025

Ukraine and Russia far apart in first direct talks, but prisoner swap agreed Source: BBC

Ukraine and Russia far apart in direct talks, but prisoner swap agreed

Kievs desire to discuss only ceasefire causes concern Russian diplomat

Another round of quick storms today: Watch Torregrossa’s live Michigan forecast

Ukraine and Russia far apart in direct talks, but prisoner swap agreed

BBC NewsMAY 2025

Ukraine and Russia far apart in direct talks, but prisoner swap agreed

BBC NewsMAY 2025

Europe Must Take Aim at Putin

Russia and Ukraine Agree to Prisoner Swap After First Direct Talks Since 2022

The Moscow TimesMAY 2025

Detroit & Michigan's only All-news Station

Ukraine war latest: Russia threatened Ukraine with 'eternal war', source tells Sky News - in peace talks which lasted just two hours

Sky NewsMAY 2025

Live updates: Ukraine’s allies call Russian demands unacceptable after first talks in years

200K without power in Michigan, some schools close after powerful storms

NewsBreakMAY 2025

200K without power in Michigan, some schools close after powerful storms

Nine people killed and four injured in Russian attack on bus in Sumy Oblast – photo

Ukrainska PravdaMAY 2025

Nine reported killed in Russian strike on civilian bus in Ukraine

BBC NewsMAY 2025

Ukraine confirms that Russia made unacceptable demands in Istanbul

Ukrainska PravdaMAY 2025

Russians in Istanbul threatened to fight forever and seize Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts The Economist

Ukrainska PravdaMAY 2025

Bloomberg reveals Russia's ultimatum demands at Istanbul talks

Ukrainska PravdaMAY 2025

Media reveal Russia's 'demands' at negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul

UkrinformMAY 2025

3993973 Enemy Attack On Bus Near Bilopillia Kills Eight Wounds Five.Htm

UkrinformMAY 2025

Russia and Ukraine agree to prisoner swap in first direct talks since 2022

SemaforMAY 2025

Russia-Ukraine talks: Prisoner exchange agreed upon, Ukraine requests Putin-Zelenskyy meeting

ABC NewsNOV 2025

Ukraine and Russia far apart in first direct talks, but prisoner swap agreed

Russia and Ukraine agree prisoner swap but peace talks fail to make progress | Ukraine | The Guardian

Ukraine and Russia far apart in first direct talks, but prisoner swap agreed

#FPWorld: The first direct Russia-Ukraine peace talks since early weeks of Moscows 2022 invasion ended after less than two hours Friday while both sides agreed on a prisoner swap but clearly remained far apart on key conditions for ending the fighti...

The first direct Russia-Ukraine peace talks since the early weeks of Moscow's 2022 invasion ended after less than two hours Friday, and while both sides agreed on a large prisoner swap, they clearly remained far apart on key conditions for ending the...

Ukraine and Russia far apart in direct talks, but prisoner swap agreed

NYT : <After days of confusion and theatrics, direct peace talks took place on Friday in Istanbul for the first time since the start of the war, resulting in an agreement to conduct what would be the largest prisoner swap of the conflict>

Ukraine and Russia far apart in direct talks, but prisoner swap agreed

BBC News - Ukraine and Russia far apart in direct talks, but prisoner swap agreed

Russia and Ukraine Agree to Prisoner Swap in First Direct Talks in Years

Russia and Ukraine agree to prisoner swap in first direct talks since 2022

Russia and Ukraine agree prisoner swap but peace talks fail to make progress | Ukraine | The Guardian

Russia and Ukraine agree on 1,000-prisoner exchange — but no ceasefire

PoliticoMAY 2025

Russia and Ukraine agree prisoner swap but peace talks fail to make progress

The first direct Russia-Ukraine peace talks ended after less than two hours, agreeing on a large prisoner swap, but clearly remained far apart on key conditions for ending the fighting.

Russia and Ukraine Agree to Prisoner Swap in First Direct Talks in Years

Ukraine, Russia to hold first direct talks since 2022

Jordan TimesMAY 2025

Türkiye hopeful for success in Istanbul talks between Russia, Ukraine

Daily SabahMAY 2025

Russia, Ukraine agree to prisoner swap in first direct talks in years

Spokesman.comMAY 2025

Russia and Ukraine Agree to Largest Prisoner Swap of the War

Ukraine, Russia delegations meet, agree to exchange hundreds of POWs

Russia and Ukraine agree major prisoner of war-swap in first direct peace talks since 2022

ABC NewsNOV 2025

Zelensky Calls Putin 'Afraid' as Peace Talks Erupt

NewsweekMAY 2025

More neutral establishment stance articles

First Face-to-Face Ukraine-Russia Talks in Three Years Begin

BreitbartMAY 2025

Mapped: Frontline in Ukraine as Kyiv and Moscow begin first direct talks since 2022

IndependentMAY 2025

Latvia warns public that ‘unkempt tourists’ might actually be Russian spies

IndependentMAY 2025

Warning of Russian Spies Posing as Countryside-Exploring Tourists

BreitbartMAY 2025

A senior Ukrainian official accuses Russia of making unacceptable demands at peace talks in Turkey

IndependentMAY 2025

What can actually happen at Turkey peace talks after Putin and Trump’s snub?

IndependentMAY 2025

Russia and Ukraine agree to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war – but fail to secure peace in Turkey talks

IndependentMAY 2025

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© 2026 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.18.0

© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 6.18.0