Agreement Reached on Prisoner Swap Amid Ongoing Peace Talks
The second round of peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, held in Istanbul, concluded without significant progress towards a ceasefire. However, both parties agreed on a prisoner exchange deal, which notably includes the transfer of approximately 6,000 frozen bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers to Kyiv.
Details of the Prisoner and Remains Exchange
Vladimir Medinsky, the Russian delegation leader and Kremlin aide, announced that Russia will hand over these bodies to Ukraine by next week. Identification processes, including DNA testing, have been undertaken to establish the identity of the fallen soldiers to ensure dignified repatriation and burial by Ukrainian authorities.
Medinsky also mentioned that Russia is prepared to receive the remains of Russian servicemen if Ukraine possesses any, although Moscow has not yet been informed of such cases.
Humanitarian Measures for Prisoners of War
Beyond the transfer of remains, both sides have agreed to exchange all severely wounded, sick prisoners, and all detainees under the age of 25. This represents the largest prisoner swap to date between Russia and Ukraine, with the estimated number of individuals exchanged expected to exceed 1,000 from each side.
To facilitate timely and regular exchanges, permanent medical commissions will be established. These commissions will evaluate the conditions of injured prisoners and compile reports used to coordinate ongoing transfers without waiting for major political approvals.
Addressing Allegations of Child Abduction
Citing recent accusations by Kyiv concerning alleged abductions of Ukrainian children by Russian forces, Medinsky stated that these claims are being scrutinized. He highlighted a decrease in reported figures from 1.5 million to an official list containing 339 names. According to Medinsky, none of these children have been abducted; rather, they were evacuated from conflict zones to ensure their safety and efforts are ongoing to reunite them with their families.
Context of the Talks
The talks took place shortly after Ukraine conducted a significant drone strike deep within Russian territory. Negotiations lasted approximately one hour and ended without consensus on an immediate ceasefire, as Russia continues to reject calls for an instant halt to hostilities.
