Russia and Ukraine Conduct First Major Prisoner and Civilian Exchange in Four Months

Moscow. Russia and Ukraine have conducted the first major exchange of prisoners of war and civilians in four months. Following two days of peace talks mediated by the United States in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), both sides returned 157 individuals each.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, among the 157 Ukrainians who returned home, 7 are civilians, while the rest are soldiers from the armed forces, National Guard, and border security forces. Most of those returned had been under Russian captivity since 2022.

President Zelenskyy reiterated his commitment to bringing every Ukrainian held in Russian jails back home. Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the release of its 157 soldiers along with three Russian civilians held in Ukrainian custody.

The talks, initiated by the efforts of US President Donald Trump, are being led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. The discussions primarily focused on territorial integrity and the security guarantees Ukraine has sought to prevent future Russian aggression.

Russia is demanding the handover of the remaining territory in the eastern industrial region of Donbas, which has become the most difficult issue for Ukraine. Special Envoy Witkoff described the talks as 'detailed and fruitful' but noted that much work remains. President Zelenskyy also commented that the talks were not easy and expressed his desire for 'quick results.'

This negotiation and prisoner exchange occurred while Russia continues its intense attacks on Ukraine's energy sector, leaving millions without electricity, water, and heating in the cold. This development offers a small but positive signal towards ending the four-year-long war.

BBC