Moscow and Kiev agree to largest-ever prisoner swap – Russia’s top negotiator
Russia and Ukraine have agreed on their largest prisoner exchange to date, Vladimir Medinsky, the head of Moscow’s delegation, said on Monday following the second round of talks in Istanbul.
Speaking to reporters following the negotiations, Medinsky said all POWs under 25 will be exchanged.
“The overall cap for the exchange will be at least 1,000 people from each side. Possibly more,” he said, adding that the figures are being finalized.
According to Medinsky, Russia will unilaterally hand over the bodies of 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers to Kiev next week for proper burial.
Regarding the memorandum, Medinsky said Russia has provided Ukraine with a draft settlement proposal consisting of two detailed parts. The first focuses on achieving a genuine, long-term peace, and the second outlines steps toward a full ceasefire, offering multiple paths. Ukraine’s delegation has taken the document for review and will deliver its response once an assessment is completed, he said.
Moscow has proposed a temporary ceasefire for two to three days in several parts of the front to facilitate the collection of soldiers’ bodies and prevent potential outbreaks of disease as the weather grows warmer, the head of Moscow’s delegation said. “We want to create the conditions for the bodies to be collected and handed over for Christian burial,” he told journalists, adding that the Ukrainian side has promised to review the proposal “on short notice.”
Medinsky also stated that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to establish medical commissions to help create exchange lists for severely injured soldiers “without the need to wait for big political decisions.” The swaps would be held regularly “in a routine manner,” he added.
