Kyiv (TDI): Russia and Ukraine released 390 prisoners each, on Friday, in what is said to be the biggest prisoner swap of the Russia-Ukraine war so far.
They have announced to exchange of more prisoners in the coming days as part of their agreement signed last week, under which each side would release 1000 prisoners. The agreement appears to be the only silver lining coming out of last week’s direct talks between the delegations of Russia and Ukraine.
Both Russia and Ukraine have announced to have released 270 soldiers and 120 civilians so far. The Ukrainians released by Russia arrived at a hospital in northern Chernihiv, with their heads shaven and their skin pale, wrapped in the flags of Ukraine.
One Ukrainian soldier, Oleksandr Nehir, upon arrival, embraced his wife and said, “I have no words to describe (my feelings). I was in captivity for 22 months.”
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The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the Russians freed from the Ukrainian captivity arrived in Belarus, where they would be receiving psychological treatment and medical assistance. The freed Russians also include the civilians who were captured by the Ukrainian forces during the invasion of the Kursk region, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, responded to the prisoner release on his social media account on Truth Social, where he said, “Congratulations to both sides on this negotiation. This could lead to something big???”
President Zelenskyy, on Friday, reiterated that he is ready for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire. The Defense Minister of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, stated, while talking to the reporters, that the prisoners swap was the “first stage” and that Ukraine still hopes to secure a ceasefire. He further said, “We hope that the U.S. will support Ukraine in achieving the ceasefire.”
On the other hand, Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, said that after the prisoner exchange, Russia would hand over a draft document to Ukraine, detailing its terms and conditions for a long-term peace agreement between the two countries.
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Although neither Russia nor Ukraine publishes their accurate casualty figures, according to the US President, thousands of soldiers and civilians have lost their lives on both sides so far in what is believed to be the longest and deadliest European war since World War Two.
This is the first time, since 2022, that Russia has shown a willingness to negotiate a peace deal, followed by a phone call between President Trump and President Putin.
After the conversation, the US President announced that both sides would immediately start direct negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
Javaria Khalid is a writer and researcher, who specializes in Pakistan's Foreign Policy Analysis, transatlantic geopolitics, and Pakistan’s relations with the European countries and the EU. She can be reached at javariakhalid011@outlook.com
