Kremlin Confirms Prisoner Swap Talks, Dismisses Ukraine Negotiation Reports
The Kremlin confirmed on Wednesday that Russia and Ukraine are actively working on a major prisoner exchange involving “1,000 for 1,000” detainees. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “all sides are interested in a rapid exchange,” and discussions are ongoing to finalize the lists of prisoners.
In a series of statements addressing current developments, Peskov clarified that no new agreements have been reached regarding future peace talks on Ukraine, and reports of Vatican-hosted negotiations are inaccurate. He also commented on recent U.S. media reports about a call between President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump, stating that these accounts contradict Moscow’s version of events.
Peskov also said that President Putin intends to visit the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of eastern Ukraine, territories Russia has annexed, noting that such visits are in the works and “will happen in time.” On the economic front, he announced that foreign companies that responsibly exited Russia amid the war may be offered favorable conditions if they choose to return.
Finally, the Kremlin criticized the European Union’s tariffs on Russian and Belarusian fertilizers, warning that the bloc would face higher costs and lower quality in the long run as a result.
