Zelenskyy convenes meeting on 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange with Russia
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting on the exchange of prisoners with Russia in the 1000-for-1000 format. The lists submitted by the Russian side are being analyzed.
"I held a meeting on the preparation for an exchange. The agreement to release 1,000 of our people from Russian captivity was perhaps the only tangible result of the meeting in Türkiye. We are working to ensure that this result is achieved," the President said.
According to Zelenskyy, the meeting included reports on contacts with the Russian side. He added that the implementation of the exchange is supervised by the head of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov. Also involved:
- Defense Intelligence of Ukraine;
- Security Service of Ukraine;
- Foreign Intelligence Service;
- Ministry of Internal Affairs;
- Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights;
- Presidential Office team.
"We are clarifying the details for each individual included on the lists submitted by the Russian side. Returning all of our people from Russian captivity is one of Ukraine’s key objectives," Zelenskyy said.
Exchange in 1000 for 1000 format
On May 16, the first direct talks between Ukraine and Russia in three years took place in Istanbul. Zelenskyy was also in Türkiye, expecting a visit from Vladimir Putin, but in the end, the latter ignored the call for a personal meeting.
Ukraine's delegation was headed by Umerov, and Russia's by Putin's aide, Vladimir Medinsky.
During the dialogue, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to exchange prisoners in a 1000 for 1000 format.
According to the Kremlin, the exchange will take time, but everyone is interested in making it happen as soon as possible.
