Once again, Russia danced the peace-talks dance in Istanbul last week, and predictably, it ended with no real breakthroughs. The tangible result? Another prisoner swap deal and an agreement to return the bodies of thousands of soldiers. The big issue? Russia still refuses an unconditional ceasefire , a demand Ukraine and its allies consider non-negotiable to stop the bloodshed. Moscow ‘ offers ’ the usual Kremlin remix: a two- or three-day truce in ‘certain areas’ (details suspiciously absent)