**Russia and Ukraine Agree on 1,000-for-1,000 Prisoner Exchange**
In a breakthrough agreement, Russia and Ukraine have reached an understanding for the exchange of prisoners of war (POWs) on a 1,000-for-1,000 basis. This development comes after talks between the two warring sides in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 16.
According to Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who led his country’s delegation at the negotiations, the agreed-upon prisoner exchange is seen as a significant step forward in the war-torn region. “We know the date, but we’re not going to say it yet,” he revealed during a press conference following the talks.
The confirmation of this agreement was soon echoed by Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation, who also spoke to Russian state media about the prisoner exchange plan.
**A Rare Case of Cooperation**
This latest development is part of regular prisoner exchanges that have taken place between Russia and Ukraine, serving as a rare case of contact and cooperation between the two adversaries. Just last month, on May 6, Ukraine successfully secured the return of 205 soldiers in a one-for-one prisoner exchange.
**Ukraine’s Proposal for an All-for-All Exchange**
The idea of an all-for-all prisoner exchange was floated by Ukraine back in 2024, but Moscow has so far refused to agree to this proposal. As a result, Kyiv does not reveal the exact figures on how many Ukrainian POWs are being held in Russia.
**Turkey Talks and Western Concerns**
Following a proposal from Moscow to hold peace talks in Turkey earlier this week, President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to attend but later declined when he realized that top officials like Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov were not part of the Russian delegation. This decision was met with skepticism by Western officials, who view it as an indication that Putin is not genuinely committed to peace efforts.
Despite this, a Ukrainian delegation, including Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, has arrived in Istanbul to meet the Russian delegates. Meetings were also held between Ukrainian officials and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier on May 16.
**A Long Way to Peace**
While both sides continue to engage in negotiations, it remains unclear whether this prisoner exchange agreement can lead to more substantial talks about a possible truce or even an unconditional ceasefire. As tensions persist, Ukraine and its allies have urged Moscow to adopt an immediate ceasefire starting May 12 as the first step toward peace talks.
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