Russia Ready for Largest Prisoner Exchange with Ukraine in June, Says Kremlin Aide
Russia has announced its readiness to carry out a major prisoner exchange with Ukraine between June 7 and 9, following peace talks held earlier this week in Istanbul, Turkey.
Speaking to President Vladimir Putin, Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky stated that both sides are expected to exchange approximately 1,200 prisoners each — potentially marking the largest such exchange since the conflict began.
“We are fully prepared to begin on June 7, 8, or 9. Each side will likely release around 1,200 prisoners,” Medinsky said during his briefing.
Medinsky, who led the Russian delegation during the negotiations in Istanbul on Monday, added that the talks also included a discussion of a potential summit between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine. He clarified that such a meeting would only occur once a comprehensive agreement is drafted and finalized by negotiators.
“Leaders should not be resolving the details, but rather approving an agreement that has already been prepared,” he said.
As part of the negotiations, Russia presented a two-part draft memorandum outlining its proposals: conditions for a long-term peace agreement and terms for a ceasefire. Ukraine, in response, emphasized the need for an unconditional ceasefire as a first step, followed by preparations for a summit between heads of state.
Medinsky also confirmed that Russia is prepared to return the bodies of 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers and receive the remains of Russian servicemen, as agreed during the talks.
While humanitarian issues were not the primary focus of this round of negotiations, both sides have reportedly established operational channels for facilitating such matters. Medinsky emphasized that Moscow prefers to prioritize sustainable peace terms over temporary truces.
The recent meeting in Istanbul marked the second round of direct Russia-Ukraine talks hosted by Turkey, following initial negotiations on May 16. In addition to the prisoner swap agreement, both sides agreed to prioritize the release of the youngest and most seriously injured prisoners of war.
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