Ukraine-Russia War: Latest Developments

1. Ukraine’s Major Airstrike on Russia

Ukraine launched a large-scale attack on Russian military airbases in five different regions, including Irkutsk in Siberia and Murmansk in the Arctic Circle. Ukrainian officials claimed that over 40 Russian warplanes were destroyed, including nuclear-capable TU-95 and TU-22M3 bombers and an A-50 early warning aircraft.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that this operation had been planned for 1.5 years and was directly supervised by him.

2. Critical Peace Talks Begin in Istanbul

Today (June 2, 2025), new peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia started at Çırağan Palace in Istanbul.

Ukraine’s delegation is led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
Russia’s delegation is headed by Putin’s advisor Vladimir Medinsky.

Zelenskyy outlined Ukraine’s priorities for the talks:
✔ Unconditional ceasefire
✔ Prisoner exchange
✔ Return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia

Meanwhile, Russia insists that any agreements signed before a new Ukrainian presidential election would be invalid.

3. Current State of the War

Ukraine has made limited advances in the Kursk region.
Russia continues to gain territory in Donbas.
Casualties:
- Russia: Over 60,000 soldiers (BBC estimates).
- Ukraine: Reported more than 13,000 military losses as of December 2022.

4. Diplomacy & International Reactions

Turkey continues its mediation efforts, engaging with both sides.
The U.S. and EU maintain military aid to Ukraine.
The UN condemns Russia’s invasion.

5. The Future of the War: Is Peace Possible?

Chance for Peace: The Istanbul talks are crucial, but Russia’s territorial demands and Ukraine’s sovereignty stance make compromise difficult.
Prolonged Conflict: Russia has mobilized 78,000 new troops, signaling a potential escalation.

Conclusion

As the Ukraine-Russia war enters its fourth year, both military and diplomatic struggles continue. The Istanbul talks hold historic significance as the first face-to-face negotiations since 2022.