Ukraine moves to free 1,000 in upcoming prisoner exchange, says Zelenskyy
Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (press service of the Office of the President)
Ukraine is preparing a new prisoner exchange with Russia, with up to 1,000 Ukrainians expected to return home.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this during a briefing with journalists on September 19.
"Rustem (Umerov) spoke with Medinsky — they are in contact. We want to bring back 1,000 people, and we are working on the lists," the president said.
Regarding a meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations, Zelenskyy noted that the issue is currently "without any progress."
"We could meet with them even tomorrow if we just wanted to talk. But we need results. We have read all their memoranda, we know them well. And they have read ours — they studied them very carefully. They know what they want, and we know what we want," the president said.
He added that Russia is currently trying by all means to delay negotiations and does not want the war to end.
"They lied again — there was a meeting, an agreement on an exchange, and besides the exchange, there was an agreement on the format in which the leaders would meet to try to agree on ending the war or on a specific stage. But they met and only agreed on the exchange. Then they returned and said, 'Let the exchange happen, civilians…after the civilians there will be a call with Rustem, we'll discuss further.' They had the call. Now they say, 'Probably we need to do something else — technical meetings.' In other words, they are delaying everything," he added.
Zelenskyy said he would discuss the matter with U.S. President Donald Trump, while Trump would talk to China.
"I think everyone will do a little bit so that a leaders-level meeting can take place," the head of state said.
Prisoner exchanges
On July 23, the third round of talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations took place in Istanbul. Previous meetings were held in Istanbul on May 16 and June 2.
As a result of the first round of negotiations, an agreement was reached on a prisoner exchange in a "1,000 for 1,000" format.
During the second round, it was agreed to exchange prisoners in two categories — wounded and severely wounded soldiers, as well as fighters under 25 years old in an "all for all" format. Additionally, the exchange of the bodies of deceased soldiers was agreed upon.
