Russia, Ukraine exchange 372 prisoners in UAE-brokered swap amid ceasefire talks

Moscow (Web Desk): Russia and Ukraine on Wednesday carried out a prisoner swap, exchanging a total of 372 individuals.

According to International media, the Russian Defence Ministry confirmed the exchange, facilitated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Moscow announced it had returned 175 Ukrainian soldiers, including 22 who were severely wounded and required urgent medical care, calling the release of the injured "a gesture of goodwill." Ukraine, in turn, handed over 175 Russian troops.

The prisoner swap followed a significant conversation between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which took place the previous day.

During their talks, they touched on the possibility of a ceasefire, although the ongoing conflict has left any peace agreements fragile.

Moscow also stated, "All the Russian soldiers are in Belarus, where they are receiving psychological and medical assistance and have the opportunity to contact their relatives."

Despite the continuing war, exchanges of prisoners have been one of the few areas where both Moscow and Kyiv have found some level of cooperation since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The latest swap indicates that such humanitarian efforts are still ongoing, with neutral parties like the UAE and Turkey often stepping in to mediate.

However, the exchange came at a time of heightened tension, as both Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of violating a supposed 30-day truce intended to pause attacks on critical energy infrastructure.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian officials have blamed one another for continued strikes on Ukraine’s power grid, despite a reported agreement by Putin to temporarily cease attacks on the energy network.

Meanwhile, Zelensky is expected to speak with Trump on Wednesday about the outcome of his conversation with Putin and potential next steps in negotiations for a ceasefire.

However, Ukraine remains cautious about any agreements, fearing they could leave the country exposed to further Russian offensives.