Russia, Ukraine Begin Prisoner Swap Amid Stalled Peace Talks and Escalating Strikes
Russia and Ukraine on Monday carried out the first stage of a long-awaited prisoner exchange, fulfilling the only concrete agreement reached during peace talks held in Istanbul on June 2. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the beginning of the exchange, saying it would continue in stages “over the coming days.”
Images shared on social media showed Ukrainian soldiers wrapped in national flags, embracing and celebrating their return. Zelensky noted that among the released are wounded soldiers, those severely injured, and individuals under the age of 25.
The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the swap, citing it as part of the agreements finalized earlier in Istanbul. Although neither side disclosed the exact number of released soldiers, both had previously indicated the exchange would involve over 1,000 captured fighters, making it the largest such operation since the war began in 2022. The swap appeared uncertain over the weekend, as each side blamed the other for delays.
Zelensky accused Moscow of engaging in a “dirty, political game,” while Russia claimed Kyiv refused to accept the bodies of 1,200 fallen soldiers still held near the border.
Despite the exchange, broader negotiations remain deadlocked. Russia has demanded Ukraine withdraw from certain territories, recognize the annexation of five regions, and renounce Western military support.
Ukraine, on the other hand, is calling for a full ceasefire and a direct summit between Zelensky, President Putin, and U.S. President Donald Trump. Fighting has intensified on several fronts, with Russia claiming new ground in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region and launching a record 479 drone strikes overnight. Ukraine, in turn, continues to target Russian military and industrial infrastructure.
