Ukraine and Russia agree to prisoner swap amid lingering tensions

DDM News

A fresh round of peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia took place on Monday in Istanbul, Turkey.

The talks, although brief, concluded with a significant agreement on the exchange of prisoners of war and fallen soldiers.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that over 1,000 POWs will be exchanged, alongside the return of numerous soldier corpses.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the meeting as “very, very momentous” despite limited diplomatic progress.

He expressed hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would soon meet face-to-face.

Erdogan also proposed including U.S. President Donald Trump in the next high-level peace gathering.

The Istanbul meeting lasted just over an hour and did not result in any firm political breakthroughs.

It came just one day after intense military actions on both sides of the conflict.

Ukrainian drones struck deep into Russian air bases in a high-profile attack that alarmed Moscow.

Russia responded with its most massive drone barrage of the war, targeting multiple Ukrainian regions.

Despite these provocations, both sides sat at the negotiating table to discuss ways forward.

Ukraine’s delegation confirmed that Russia submitted a written outline of its conditions for halting hostilities.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, who led Kyiv’s delegation, told the press that they need one week to study the Russian memo.

He added that Ukraine has proposed scheduling the next round of talks between June 20 and June 30.

The war between Ukraine and Russia has stretched into its third year, with widespread devastation and geopolitical instability.

Tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians have lost their lives, while millions have been displaced from their homes.

Global leaders have consistently urged both nations to reach a diplomatic resolution and avoid further escalation.

Erdogan noted that holding talks despite heightened military actions was in itself a diplomatic win.

Observers remain cautiously hopeful, though concrete results from the peace process are still elusive.

The prisoner swap could serve as a confidence-building gesture to encourage further diplomatic engagements.

The conflict has reshaped European and global security dynamics, drawing in support and condemnation from NATO and other allies.

DDM reports that Ukraine’s government remains firm on recovering all occupied territories as part of any peace deal.

Russia, meanwhile, insists on recognition of annexed territories and security guarantees that Kyiv finds unacceptable.

Peace mediators like Turkey are attempting to bridge this growing divide with ongoing negotiations.

Experts say a future summit involving Trump, Erdogan, Zelenskyy, and Putin could represent a breakthrough moment.

Until then, small steps like the prisoner exchange offer a glimmer of hope in an otherwise entrenched war.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook