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Zelenskiy says Ukraine, Russia to exchange lists this week for POW swap

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on June 2, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: January 23, 2026

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Zelenskiy says Ukraine, Russia to exchange lists this week for POW swap
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KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine and Russia agreed at talks in Istanbul on Monday next week to give each other lists of people they want included in a planned prisoner of war swap, Ukrainian President

Ukraine and Russia Set to Exchange POW Lists for Swap This Week

KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine and Russia agreed at talks in Istanbul on Monday next week to give each other lists of people they want included in a planned prisoner of war swap, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said.

Zelenskiy told an online news briefing that negotiators for Russia and Ukraine agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners each, with the possibility of swapping an additional 200 POWs.

He said there was also agreement to return the remains of killed service personnel, but this would take careful preparation.

Zelenskiy also said Ukrainian negotiators gave their Russian counterparts a list of nearly 400 children it wanted Russia to return home to Ukraine, but that the Russian delegation agreed to work on returning only 10 of them.

Further, the Ukrainian leader referred to a Ukrainian intelligence operation on Sunday, codenamed "Spider's Web", in which drones smuggled inside wooden sheds attacked Russian military airfields.

He said the operation had helped to restore partners' confidence that Ukraine is able to continue waging its war against Russia's invasion.

(Reporting by Olena Harmash; Writing by Christian Lowe)

Key Takeaways

  • Ukraine and Russia agree to exchange POW lists.
  • 1,000 prisoners each to be swapped, with potential for more.
  • Agreement includes returning remains of killed personnel.
  • Ukraine seeks return of nearly 400 children from Russia.
  • Ukrainian operation 'Spider's Web' boosts confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Zelenskiy announce regarding the POW swap?
Zelenskiy announced that Ukraine and Russia agreed to exchange lists of 1,000 prisoners each, with the possibility of an additional 200 POWs.
What other agreements were made during the talks?
In addition to the POW swap, there was an agreement to return the remains of killed service personnel, which requires careful preparation.
What specific request did Ukraine make regarding children?
Ukrainian negotiators provided a list of nearly 400 children they wanted Russia to return home to Ukraine.
What was the significance of the 'Spider's Web' operation?
The 'Spider's Web' operation involved drones attacking Russian military airfields, which helped restore confidence among Ukraine's partners in its ability to continue the war.
Where did the talks between Ukraine and Russia take place?
The talks between Ukraine and Russia took place in Istanbul.

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