Russia and Ukraine Agree to New Prisoner Exchange

Delegations from Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a new prisoner exchange during talks in Istanbul. However, a gap remains regarding a ceasefire and a potential meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umerov, stated that progress was made on a humanitarian level, but not regarding the cessation of hostilities. Kyiv proposed a Zelenskyy-Putin meeting by the end of August.

The head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, said that a meeting at the presidential level would only make sense to sign a treaty. He reiterated the proposal for a 24 to 48-hour cessation of hostilities to collect the dead and wounded.

According to Medinsky, the two sides agreed to exchange at least 1,200 prisoners of war on each side, and Russia intends to hand over more than 3,000 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers. Moscow is also considering a list of 339 names of children from Ukraine, who, according to Kyiv, were abducted and transferred to Russia.

Umerov stressed the need for further progress on the issue of prisoners of war and the release of civilians, including children. Ukrainian authorities claim that more than 19,000 children were forcibly transferred to Russia or occupied territories after the start of the Russian invasion.

The talks in Istanbul were shorter than previous rounds.

Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ