Ukraine Denies Postponing Prisoner Swaps Amid Russian Attacks

Ukraine has denied Russian claims that it has indefinitely postponed prisoner exchanges agreed upon at peace talks in Istanbul, asserting that no official date has been set and that lists for the exchange are still being finalized. Ukrainian officials accuse Russia of using these allegations as a tactic to discredit Ukraine internationally and urge Moscow to return to constructive negotiations. Meanwhile, Russia has launched intense missile and drone strikes on the northeastern city of Kharkiv, killing several civilians and causing significant infrastructure damage, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned as "brutal murder." Russia also claimed a Ukrainian drone attack wounded two people in the Moscow region. Despite the ongoing conflict and accusations, both sides had agreed to swap prisoners and return the bodies of approximately 12,000 dead soldiers during the second round of talks. Ukrainian officials emphasize their full commitment to the successful implementation of prisoner exchanges and repatriation efforts while highlighting Russia's reluctance to engage in good faith.