Russia, Ukraine Agree on 1,000-for-1,000 POW Exchange in Istanbul

Russia and Ukraine have agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each, marking the largest prisoner swap since the conflict began in February 2022. This agreement, reached during talks in Istanbul—the first direct negotiations in over three years—signals a potential step toward de-escalating tensions between the two nations. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky both confirmed the deal, though the exact date of the exchange has not been disclosed. Ukraine has proposed an all-for-all prisoner exchange, but Russia has yet to agree to this broader swap. Additionally, the two countries continue to exchange the bodies of fallen soldiers, with the latest exchange involving hundreds of bodies transferred between the sides. These developments come amid increasing pressure from the U.S. and the international community to resolve the ongoing conflict, Europe's deadliest since World War II.