Russia and Ukraine have begun a large-scale prisoner exchange involving approximately 1,000 detainees on each side, according to a Ukrainian official and sources familiar with the matter. The exchange began Friday, following direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow in Istanbul last week-the first face-to-face diplomatic engagement between the two since early in the war.
The swap was not officially confirmed by either Ukrainian or Russian authorities while it was in progress, a protocol typically observed in past exchanges. However, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the development on social media as the swap was still underway. "A major prisoners swap was just completed between Russia and Ukraine. It will go into effect shortly," Trump wrote Friday on Truth Social. "Congratulations to both sides on this negotiation. This could lead to something big???"
Trump's statement followed a phone call earlier this week with Russian President Vladimir Putin. After the conversation, Trump said, "I believe it went very well," adding that "Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War." He added, "The tone and spirit of the conversation were excellent. If it wasn't, I would say so now, rather than later."
Putin offered a cautiously optimistic response, stating that "a ceasefire with Ukraine is possible," but emphasized that "Russia and Ukraine must find compromises that suit both sides." The Kremlin later clarified that no further direct peace talks had yet been scheduled. "There is no concrete agreement about the next meetings," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also acknowledged the exchange, writing on X, "The agreement to release 1,000 of our people from Russian captivity was perhaps the only tangible result of the meeting in Turkey." The Istanbul negotiations had followed increased pressure from Kyiv's European allies, who reportedly issued a ceasefire-or-sanctions ultimatum to Moscow.
The exchange comes amid a broader series of prisoner swaps throughout the conflict. According to Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the country has conducted 64 exchanges since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, with at least 4,757 Ukrainian citizens returned.
Earlier this month, more than 200 Ukrainian service members were released in a May 7 swap, the fifth such exchange in 2024.
