Russia and Ukraine completed a massive prisoner exchange on Sunday, with 1,000 prisoners released by each side, marking the largest since the war began three years ago. The three-day swap was agreed upon during face-to-face talks between the two sides in Istanbul earlier this month.
The prisoner exchange included civilians and has been seen as the only concrete step towards peace to emerge from the talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the completion of the exchange, stating that 303 Ukrainian defenders are now home.
However, the deal was overshadowed by a massive drone and missile assault on Ukraine just hours before the last handover. At least 12 people were killed and dozens injured in what officials described as the largest aerial attack since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said it shot down 110 Ukrainian drones overnight, while there was no immediate comment from Moscow on the strikes. President Zelenskyy has urged his country’s Western partners to ramp up sanctions against Russia.
A draft peace agreement is expected to be presented to Ukraine once the exchange is completed, according to Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The prisoner exchange was the latest of dozens of swaps since the war began but also the biggest involving Ukrainian civilians.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/05/25/polish-presidential-elections-2025-whos-leading-in-the-polls