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16.05.2025

16.05.2025Day Istanbul Talks Yielded Prisoner Exchange While Future Meetings Loom

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This page is an archive of main headlines from Russia for 16.05.2025.

It displays 204 headlines from many sources chronologically, as they appeared throughout the day, accompanied by AI overviews that were written in real time.

16.05.2025Day Istanbul Talks Yielded Prisoner Exchange While Future Meetings Loom
The long-anticipated direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations finally occurred in Istanbul, dominating Russian media throughout the day. Initially scheduled for 10:00, the talks were delayed until 12:30 and lasted less than two hours. Despite earlier reported tensions and Russia's opposition to American presence, delegations from the US, Turkey and Ukraine met before Russia and Ukraine convened directly.

By early afternoon, Medinsky announced the key outcome: a prisoner exchange agreement in "1000 for 1000" format. He expressed "satisfaction" with results while responding to ceasefire proposals with a Napoleon quote. Ukrainian representatives reportedly requested direct Putin-Zelensky talks.

Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan confirmed both sides agreed to future meetings. Russian media claimed Ukraine's demands were unrealistic while The Moscow Times reported Russia threatened to seize additional Ukrainian territories.

In parallel developments, Trump expressed readiness to meet Putin "within 2-3 weeks," while Russian air defense reportedly intercepted 65 Ukrainian drones overnight before the talks.
16.05.2025
01:08
01:33
RIA Novosti

Рубио назвал встречу Трампа с Путиным единственным шансом на украинское урегулирование

01:33
02:46
RIA Novosti

Над акваторией Севастополя уничтожили шесть украинских беспилотников

02:46
02:46
03:01

03:44Istanbul Peace Talks Commence At 10AM

Russian newspapers extensively report on Russia-Ukraine negotiations scheduled for 10:00 AM in Istanbul today, May 16 (Interfax, Komsomolskaya Pravda). Vladimir Medinsky, heading Russia's delegation, described his meeting with Turkey's Foreign Minister as productive (Izvestia, NTV, Rossiyskaya Gazeta) and stated Russia is ready to work. However, some sources suggest Ukraine may be attempting to disrupt the talks, potentially using Medinsky as a pretext (Lenta). Military actions continue with reports of six Ukrainian drones being destroyed over Sevastopol (RIA Novosti). Separately, analysts have identified reduced capital reserves at six major Russian banks (RBC).
04:32
05:04
RIA Novosti

В МИД выразили надежду на достижение договоренностей с Украиной

05:04
05:21
RIA Novosti

В МИД выразили надежду на достижение договоренностей с Украиной в Стамбуле

05:21
05:29
05:46
RIA Novosti

В офисе Зеленского царит паника из-за переговоров, пишет Spiegel

05:46
06:03
RIA Novosti

Встреча представителей России, Украины и Турции пройдет в Стамбуле в 12:30, сообщил источник

06:03

06:13Istanbul Negotiations Begin At Noon

Russian newspapers extensively cover today's Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul scheduled for 12:00-12:30 (TASS, RIA Novosti). Reports indicate the US Secretary of State has declined to participate in the talks (Moscow Times). The Russian Foreign Ministry has commented on the probable outcome of these negotiations (Lenta). Ukraine's armed forces reported losing another F-16 fighter jet (RBC), while Russia's National Guard discovered a weapons cache in a Ukrainian soldier's home in Zaporizhzhia region (Izvestia). Russian media also reports that France is leading the West's "party of war" against Russia (RT). Separately, an explosion occurred at the "Svecha" enterprise in Bashkiria (Kommersant).
07:10
Oleg Salyukov will become a deputy to ex-Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who was removed last year and made Secretary of the Security Council. 2
07:10
07:10
07:10
RIA Novosti

Нежданная оттепель. Вашингтон сделал шаг навстречу Москве

07:10

08:02Istanbul Peace Talks Commence

Russian newspapers extensively report on the Istanbul peace negotiations beginning today. Multiple sources note trilateral meetings between Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey are scheduled for 12:30 (Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Vesti). Several outlets report on preliminary meetings between US, Turkish and Ukrainian delegations already underway (RBC, TASS). Trump stated a possible meeting with Putin could occur within 2-3 weeks (Kommersant). In military news, Russian air defense reportedly shot down 65 Ukrainian drones overnight (Izvestia). Putin has removed the chief of military's land forces, Oleg Salyukov (Moscow Times).
08:52
09:00

09:46Istanbul Direct Russia-Ukraine Talks Begin

Russian newspapers extensively cover the Istanbul negotiations, reporting trilateral talks between Turkey, USA, and Ukraine have concluded (Izvestia, RBC). Media indicates Russia opposes American presence at direct Russia-Ukraine talks (NTV) and reports that Russian and American representatives will meet before direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations (TASS). Live coverage of direct Russia-Ukraine talks has begun (Kommersant). In parallel developments, Trump reportedly wants to meet Putin "as soon as it can be set up" (RT, Vesti, AFP), while Europe is considering punitive tariffs on all Russian goods (Moscow Times).
10:41
10:50

10:51Istanbul Direct Peace Talks Launch

Russian newspapers extensively report on the direct Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations that have begun in Istanbul (Interfax, Lenta, Moscow Times, NTV, RBC, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, RT, TASS, Vesti). Multiple sources confirm these are the first direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv since 2022 (RT). Prior to the talks, Ukraine reportedly proposed a ceasefire and a Putin-Zelensky meeting (Moscow Times). One report mentions an exchange of bodies of deceased soldiers, noting a significant numerical disparity (Komsomolskaya Pravda). In unrelated news, media covers Trump's activities in the Persian Gulf (Svoboda).
10:59
12:33
12:42
12:42

12:45Istanbul Peace Talks Abruptly Conclude

Russian newspapers extensively report on the Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul that began today but have already concluded (Interfax, Izvestia, Kommersant, Komsomolskaya Pravda, Lenta, Moscow Times, NTV, RBC, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, RT, TASS). The talks were conducted in a closed format (NTV) and lasted approximately two hours (RT). One source reports the negotiations paused (Interfax), while most indicate they have completely ended (Kommersant, Lenta, Moscow Times, RBC, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, RT, TASS). The Moscow Times reports talks concluded after Russia demanded Ukrainian troops withdraw "from all its territories."
12:51
12:59
12:59
13:16
13:31
13:45

13:47Istanbul Talks Conclude With Prisoner Exchange Agreement

Russian newspapers extensively report on the conclusion of Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations in Istanbul, which lasted less than two hours (Komsomolskaya Pravda, RT). Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation, announced the talks have ended (Izvestia, Kommersant). Several significant developments were reported: Ukraine requested direct Putin-Zelensky talks (Kommersant), both sides agreed to discuss ceasefire possibilities (RBC), and arranged a prisoner exchange of "1000 for 1000" (Lenta, Rossiyskaya Gazeta). However, Reuters reports via NTV that Ukraine considers Russia's demands unrealistic.
13:52
14:07
14:07
14:07
RIA Novosti

"Результатом удовлетворены". О чем договорились Россия и Украина в Стамбуле

14:07
14:14
14:21
14:23
15:12
15:12

15:13Istanbul Talks Yield Prisoner Exchange Agreement

Russian newspapers extensively report on the conclusion of Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul (Interfax, Komsomolskaya Pravda, Lenta, Moscow Times, NTV, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, RIA Novosti, RT, TASS, Vesti). The talks lasted nearly two hours (Lenta). Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation, expressed general satisfaction with the results (Interfax, NTV, RIA Novosti) and confirmed a prisoner exchange agreement in "1000 for 1000" format (Vesti, TASS). The discussions included ceasefire options and potential follow-up meetings (RT). The Moscow Times reports Russia threatened to seize two more Ukrainian regions during negotiations.
15:45
16:44
16:52
17:13
17:13
17:55

17:57Istanbul Talks Spawn Future Meetings Agreement

Russian newspapers extensively report on the outcomes of the Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul (Izvestia, Komsomolskaya Pravda, Lenta, NTV, RBC, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, RT, TASS, Vesti). Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan announced Moscow and Kyiv agreed to hold another meeting (Izvestia, RT). Vladimir Medinsky responded to ceasefire proposals with a Napoleon quote (RBC) and stated "war and negotiations always happen simultaneously" (Rossiyskaya Gazeta). The stock market reaction suggested who achieved better results in Istanbul (Komsomolskaya Pravda). Meanwhile, Rosstat reported a threefold slowdown in the Russian economy (Moscow Times).
21:13

22:10Istanbul Peace Talks Dissected By Analysts

Russian newspapers continue extensive coverage of the Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul. Head of RFPI Dmitriev positively assessed the results (Izvestia), while RT reports Russia's top negotiator claimed the conflict could have ended in weeks. A Turkish source revealed when the talks reached an impasse (Kommersant). Russian officials have made predictions about the conflict's trajectory following the Istanbul meetings (Lenta). Multiple sources discuss international reactions to the negotiations (Rossiyskaya Gazeta). In military news, Kiev has reportedly been probing for weaknesses in Russian defenses in the Sumy region (TASS).
22:44
23:04
RIA Novosti

Трамп заявил, что у Зеленского нет козырей, и допустил "разрушительные" санкции против России

23:04