Ukraine negotiates with Russia to resume prisoner exchanges, aiming to free 1,200 Ukrainians in time for New Year and Christmas holidays
KYIV: Ukraine is actively working to resume prisoner exchanges with Russia, targeting the release of 1,200 Ukrainian captives.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed the efforts in a video posted on Telegram on Sunday.
“We are counting on the resumption of exchanges,” he stated.
Security Council chief Rustem Umerov held consultations in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates with international partners to restart the process.
“As a result of these negotiations, the parties agreed to return to the Istanbul agreements,” Umerov announced.
The Istanbul agreements are prisoner-exchange protocols brokered by Turkey in 2022.
They established rules for large-scale, coordinated swaps between the warring nations.
Thousands of prisoners have been exchanged since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
These exchanges have been sporadic and frequently disrupted by frontline escalations.
Moscow has not yet commented on Ukraine’s recent statements.
Umerov said further consultations will soon address procedural and organisational details.
“We are working without pause so that Ukrainians can celebrate New Year and Christmas at home,” he affirmed. – Reuters
