Kremlin Says Russia, Ukraine Plan 1,000-POW Prisoner Swap

Following the first direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in over three years held in Istanbul, both sides have agreed to conduct a large-scale prisoner swap involving 1,000 inmates each, marking the largest exchange since the start of the war. Russia has already submitted its list of 1,000 prisoners to Ukraine and is awaiting Kyiv's list to proceed with the exchange, which both parties are eager to complete as soon as possible. Ukrainian officials emphasize that the prisoner exchange must be carried out before agreeing on the venue for future direct negotiations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted ongoing efforts to verify and secure the release of all Ukrainian prisoners. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also addressed reports about a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Donald Trump, disputing claims about Putin's position on ending the conflict. The prisoner swap represents a significant step in the ongoing negotiations for a truce between the two countries.