Russia and Ukraine in secret ceasefire talks via third-country intermediary, sources say

Indirect ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine have been conducted through a third-country intermediary over the past six weeks, according to three people briefed on the matter. The talks have been held outside Europe, and neither government has publicly acknowledged the contacts. If confirmed, the back-channel would represent the first sustained indirect negotiation between the two sides since 2022.

The reported agenda has been deliberately limited in scope. Topics under discussion are said to include prisoner exchanges, a monitoring mechanism, and a potential freeze along current lines of control. Territorial negotiations have not been part of the reported agenda.

Sources described the talks internally as 'exploratory,' indicating that neither side has made commitments and that both governments retain full deniability regarding the contacts.

The identity of the third-country intermediary has not been established by any of the sources. The six-week timeline would place the start of the reported talks in the period immediately following a failed mediation effort in February.

Neither the Ukrainian nor the Russian government has responded to requests for comment on the reported contacts. Western governments said they had not been formally briefed on the matter.