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By Shane Croucher
Senior Editor
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President Donald Trump announced a "major prisoners swap" had taken place between Russia and Ukraine.
The two sides had agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners each at their direct talks in Istanbul last week, the first time Russia and Ukraine had met for negotiations in more than three years.
A prisoner swap was one of the few pieces of good news to emerge from the talks after Russia sent a low-level delegation to meet Ukraine's lineup of senior officials, tempering hopes of a breakthrough on a ceasefire.
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"A major prisoners swap was just completed between Russia and Ukraine. It will go into effect shortly. Congratulations to both sides on this negotiation. This could lead to something big???" Trump posted to his Truth Social platform on Friday morning.
He did not immediately give further details about the exchange. Newsweek has contacted the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Russian government's press service for comment via email.
An exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine from their more than three-year war was underway Friday, a senior Ukrainian official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.
Moscow did not immediately confirm the exchange was underway.
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Trump Tires of Russia-Ukraine Peace Process
Trump is attempting to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine, but has said he will walk away from the process unless a deal is made soon.
He has been increasingly frustrated with both sides amid a lack of progress.
Ukraine and its European allies want Trump to increase the pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to make peace—or agree to a temporary ceasefire, at least—through more sanctions.
But Trump sees value in further direct talks between Russia and Ukraine before taking any more action, and is urging the two sides to keep engaging.
Trump-Putin Call
A recent call between Trump and Putin was described as "excellent" by the American president. But it left Ukraine and its European allies asking what had been achieved by the conversation, after Putin had not shifted in his position.
Moscow had said it is open to discussing a ceasefire and wants peace, but that there are many nuances and details to work through. It has also said that Ukraine could use a pause to regroup and rearm at a time when Russia is making advances on the battlefield.
The Ukrainians say Russian reluctance to agree to an immediate ceasefire is evidence that it does not truly seek peace, and so will need additional pressure to force it to make compromises that would end the war.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, prompting sprawling sanctions from Western allies, who have also, led by the U.S., provided vital military aid to Kyiv for its defense against Moscow.
Ukraine accuses Russia of an illegal war of aggression motivated by an imperial desire to seize control of Kyiv for Moscow. Russia says it intervened to end Ukraine's ambition to join NATO, which it saw as an intolerable security threat,
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
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