Ukraine-Russia Near 1,000 Prisoner Swap After Istanbul Talks

Ukraine and Russia have agreed to conduct a large-scale prisoner exchange involving 1,000 detainees from each side, marking one of the biggest swaps since the conflict began, following peace talks in Istanbul. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized efforts to ensure the exchange proceeds as planned, though Russian officials claim Ukraine lacks sufficient Russian prisoners of war and accuse Kyiv of detaining civilians to meet the quota. Despite the prisoner swap agreement, the peace negotiations have not resulted in a ceasefire, with Russia maintaining maximalist demands including territorial concessions and a future peace treaty memorandum rather than an immediate ceasefire. International leaders, including the British Prime Minister and U.S. President Donald Trump, have expressed support for Ukraine and engaged in discussions regarding the conflict and peace efforts. Zelensky has also proposed expanding U.S.-Ukraine cooperation through a free trade agreement, signaling ongoing diplomatic and economic engagement amid the conflict. However, Kyiv remains critical of Russia’s demands during talks, considering them unacceptable and detached from reality.