Russia and Ukraine Agree to Major Prisoner Swap in Istanbul Talks
Delegations from Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a significant prisoner of war exchange following a brief third round of peace talks in Istanbul. The negotiations, which reportedly lasted less than an hour on Wednesday, mark a tangible outcome in the ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that over 1,000 Ukrainian prisoners, including the “seriously ill and severely wounded,” would be returning home. “For a thousand families, this means the joy of embracing their loved ones again,” Zelenskyy stated, noting that many had been imprisoned for more than three years. He assured that all returning defenders would receive necessary medical assistance and support, reaffirming that “bringing all our people back is a priority for the state.”
From the Russian side, negotiator Vladimir Medinsky confirmed that an agreement was reached to exchange 1,200 prisoners of war from each side. Medinsky added that Moscow also offered to return the bodies of 3,000 Ukrainian soldiers and proposed a 24 to 48-hour ceasefire. Regarding a potential meeting between the two nations’ presidents, Medinsky stated such a summit should be for signing documents rather than holding discussions.
While diplomatic progress was made abroad, President Zelenskyy faced mounting pressure at home over a new law curbing the independence of key anti-corruption agencies. The legislation, which places the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) under the control of the Prosecutor General’s Office, sparked the largest protests in Kyiv since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The move drew swift criticism from Ukraine’s international partners, who worry it could undermine crucial anti-corruption reforms tied to the country’s bid to join the European Union. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen conveyed her “strong concerns” to Zelenskyy, while German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned the law “hampers Ukraine’s path to the EU.”
In response to the backlash, Zelenskyy announced he would submit a new bill to parliament. He promised the new legislation would address public concerns and ensure that “all standards for the independence of anti-corruption institutions will be in place.”
In other developments:
- German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius called for “watertight” assurances from the US that Patriot air-defense systems supplied to Ukraine by European allies would be replaced within six to eight months.
- US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told Fox News that sanctioning Russian oil is a “very real possibility” to pressure Moscow into a peace deal, following President Donald Trump’s suggestion of 100% tariffs.
- President Zelenskyy confirmed the loss of a French-supplied Mirage fighter jet due to a technical failure, clarifying it was not shot down. The pilot ejected safely.
- Ukrainian authorities, in a joint operation with France and Europol, arrested the suspected administrator of a major Russian-language cybercrime platform, xss.is. The individual is believed to have been active for over two decades.
