Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that Kyiv hopes to restore large-scale prisoner exchanges with Russia by the end of the year, stressing that his government is making “every effort” to bring home a significant number of Ukrainian prisoners of war.
Speaking at a press conference in Ankara, Zelenskyy described his meeting as “very productive and substantive,” emphasizing that the issue of prisoner swaps remains one of Ukraine’s highest priorities. He noted that 2,500 Ukrainian prisoners have already returned—or are in the process of returning—through mediated efforts and said Kyiv aims to accelerate the pace of these exchanges in the coming months.
Zelenskyy recalled that Moscow and Kyiv previously held three rounds of renewed peace talks in Istanbul — on May 16, June 2 and July 23 — which produced major prisoner swaps and draft memoranda outlining each side’s positions for a potential future peace agreement. With the war now in its fourth year, he stressed the need to channel diplomatic activity “toward peace, a dignified peace and guaranteed security,” reiterating that “there is no alternative to peace.”
The Ukrainian president said Kyiv will continue coordinating closely with partners to advance its diplomatic objectives, underlining that ensuring peace, stability and security — including in the Black Sea region — remains central to Ukraine’s long-term national interests.
