Ukraine eyes major POW exchange with Russia as talks continue
Photo: Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine (Getty Images)
Ukraine is working to hold another prisoner exchange with Russia. It may take place in the near future, according to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov.
Read also: 'Have been waiting three years for my son. Now he's home': Report on POW exchange
When asked whether a prisoner of war exchange could be expected in the near future, Budanov said that work is underway.
“We are working on it. I hope that it will still happen this week,” the head of the Presidential Office said.
When asked about numbers, whether it could involve 150 or 200 prisoners of war, Budanov noted that it is a large number.
“A large figure. Larger than last time. Let’s put it that way,” Budanov summed up.
Prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia
Last POW exchange brought home 157 Ukrainians. 150 servicemen and 7 civilians were freed from Russian captivity.
This exchange was the first in about five months. It was carried out following the results of trilateral talks between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia in Abu Dhabi (UAE).
Before that, for nearly half a year, Russia had deliberately delayed agreements, blocking the return of Ukrainian servicemen and civilians.
According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia is currently holding up to seven thousand Ukrainian prisoners.
Following the Ukraine-US-Russia talks in Geneva (held on February 17–18), Zelenskyy announced that an agreement on a new exchange with the Russians could be reached in the coming days.
