Ukraine Advances POW Swap Talks with Russia for 1,200

KYIV, Ukraine - Ukraine is advancing negotiations with Russia to resume prisoner-of-war exchanges that could free 1,200 Ukrainian captives, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Sunday, following consultations mediated by Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

Zelenskyy stated on social media that his government is conducting multiple meetings, negotiations and calls to facilitate the process. "We are working to ensure another start to negotiations, so that after all there is a prospect to end this war," he said. The effort builds on protocols established in the 2022 Istanbul agreements, which Turkish mediators helped broker to organize large-scale swaps between the two sides. Since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022, the countries have exchanged thousands of prisoners, though the process has proceeded sporadically and stalled in recent months.

Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, reported Saturday that he held talks with mediators in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates on instructions from Zelenskyy. The discussions clarified key issues and led to an agreement to activate the Istanbul framework for the release of 1,200...