Russia and Ukraine have released a total of 390 prisoners together. This event is considered the largest prisoner exchange of the ongoing war. The exchange began on Friday and both sides said that more prisoners will be released on Saturday and Sunday.
Both sides said that in the first round, they have released 270 soldiers and 120 civilians from the opposing sides. The initiative for this prisoner exchange came through a recent direct meeting. Although the meeting did not reach a final decision on a ceasefire, it is seen as a real step towards peace.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that the released Russian citizens are currently being held in Belarus. There they are receiving psychological and medical support. They will then be returned to Russia. Some of them were captured during Ukraine’s attack on Russia’s Kursk region.
On the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted photos of the released Ukrainians on social media. They were all celebrating with their heads shaved and the Ukrainian national flag wrapped around their bodies.
The wife of a prisoner released in Kiev’s Independence Square told Ukrainian media that she had been waiting for her husband’s release since 2022. She finally cried with joy when she received a government phone call. “We waited, we hoped, and we kept fighting,” said the woman, named Victoria.
Former US President Donald Trump congratulated both sides on the prisoner exchange in a post on his Truth Social, writing, “The results of these talks could turn into something big in the future.”
Meanwhile, despite some initiatives to end the fighting, disagreements remain over a complete ceasefire. Ukraine has said it is ready for a 30-day ceasefire. However, Russia says it will not stop attacking until certain conditions are met first. The Ukrainian side has called those conditions “impossible and unacceptable.”
Russia has said it is ready for talks, but only if Ukraine disarms, gives up more territory, and promises not to join Western military alliances. But Ukraine sees this as surrender and feels vulnerable to future Russian aggression.