Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says all sides exchanged 390 detainees, with extra to come back over a number of days.
Russia and Ukraine say that they’ve swapped a whole lot of prisoners within the first section of a main change that was agreed at latest direct talks in Turkiye.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Friday that the discharge of 390 folks by all sides was the primary stage of a “1,000-for-1,000” swap.
“We’re bringing our folks dwelling,” he stated in a social media submit.
“At the moment – 390 folks. On Saturday and Sunday, we anticipate the change to proceed. Thanks to everybody who helps and dealing 24/7 to carry Ukrainian women and men again dwelling. It is vitally necessary to return everybody who stays in captivity. We’re verifying each surname, each element about every particular person,” he added.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence stated all sides had launched 270 army personnel and 120 civilian detainees, with additional exchanges deliberate “in coming days”.
On this photograph taken from a video launched by Russian Protection Ministry press service, Russian servicemen pose after coming back from captivity after an change between Russia and Ukraine, at an undisclosed location in Belarus, Friday, Might 23, 2025 (Russian Defence Ministry Press Service by way of AP Picture)
United States President Donald Trump, who has pushed all sides to carry talks to finish the battle, welcomed the change in a social media submit, including it might “result in one thing large”.
However uncertainty stays over the trail in direction of a negotiated settlement to finish the battle, or perhaps a pause within the combating, greater than three years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian officers in Istanbul final week had been the primary direct talks the 2 sides have held for the reason that early weeks of the battle, however lasted for under two hours and didn’t produce an settlement on a cessation of hostilities.
Ukraine has acknowledged it will settle for an instantaneous 30-day ceasefire, whereas Russia has stated it is not going to achieve this except sure situations are met.
Ukrainian authorities beforehand instructed reporters to assemble in Ukraine’s northern Chernihiv area, anticipating that a few of these freed within the prisoner change might be introduced there. Members of the family awaiting the discharge of family members additionally assembled within the area, some holding images or banners of these in captivity.
The Related Press information company reported that the change came about on the border with Belarus in northern Ukraine, quoting an nameless official. The Russian Ministry of Defence stated launched Russian detainees had been taken to Belarus for medical remedy.
A Ukrainian serviceman Alexander, 45, hugs his spouse Elena, 39, after coming back from captivity throughout a POWs change between Russia and Ukraine, in Chernyhiv area, Ukraine, Friday, Might 23, 2025 (Efrem Lukatsky/AP Picture)
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