No breakthrough: Russia-Ukraine peace talks yield little progress amid escalating tensions

New Delhi, June 3: Russian and Ukrainian delegates met for a second round of direct peace talks in Istanbul on late Monday, but the meeting yielded no significant progress toward ending the war, according to statements from both sides.

The talks came just one day after Ukraine launched a surprise massive drone attack on Russian air bases, targeting long-range bombers in a mission President Volodymyr Zelensky said had been planned for 18 months.

The session of talks lasted just over an hour. While both delegations agreed to pursue a new prisoner exchange, there was little common ground on larger issues, particularly a ceasefire. This marks the second face-to-face meeting between the two countries since their first direct talks in over two years were held last month in Istanbul.