Ukraine and Russia agreed to a large-scale prisoner swap during their talks, the head of Ukraine’s delegation said in an interview with Ukraine’s public broadcaster.
“We discussed an exchange of 1,000 for 1,000. We are also working on other modalities for this exchange,” Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov told Suspilne.
“[The exchange will take place] soon; we already know the date, but we will not disclose it yet,” he added.
Thousands of prisoners have been released in a series of exchanges between Kyiv and Moscow since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
A ceasefire as well as potential direct talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr were also discussed during Friday’s talks, Umerov said.
Also, the head of Russia’s delegation in Turkey has confirmed that a large-scale prisoner exchange between Moscow and Kyiv will take palace and said each country will “present its vision of a possible future ceasefire,” after talks between the warring countries concluded on Friday.
Vladimir Medinsky said the prisoner swap will see 1,000 prisoners in each country released.
And he said that discussions will continue after “each side will present its vision of a possible future ceasefire, detailing it in writing.”
Russia demanded during talks in Istanbul that Ukraine must cede land still under Kyiv’s control during face-to-face talks, a source familiar with Friday’s negotiations told CNN.
Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson are the four regions in question, which Russia attempted to illegally annex in 2022.
Russia claims these regions but does not have full control over them.
CNN/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko
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