Ukraine and Russia made limited but concrete progress on humanitarian issues during peace talks held Monday in Istanbul under Turkish mediation, according to Xinhua.

Ukraine proposed a 30-day ceasefire, prisoner releases, and the return of children and young soldiers, as stated by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

Russia agreed to repatriate 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers' dead in exchange for all severely injured and 18-25-year-old troops. Moscow also proposed a brief ceasefire in certain frontline sectors, Xinhua reported.

Officials regarded the discussions as positive. It was the second direct encounter in Istanbul since May, indicating a tentative move toward future engagement.