CHERNIHIV REGION, Ukraine — In a rare sign of cooperation following the first direct peace negotiations in over three years, Ukraine and Russia initiated a large-scale exchange of prisoners on Friday at the Belarus border crossing in northern Ukraine. The swap, which involves 1,000 detainees from each side, was agreed in principle during the brief Istanbul talks last week.
Context of the Istanbul Dialogue
Background of the Talks
On May 16, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan hosted Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul—marking the first face-to-face meeting between the two sides since the initial phase of Russia’s 2022 invasion. The two-hour session culminated in an agreement to begin swapping 1,000 prisoners each and to reconvene for further discussions, but failed to secure any advance toward a halt in hostilities.
Stalled Progress on a Ceasefire
Despite Western hopes that the prisoner exchange would pave the way for a temporary ceasefire, both Moscow and Kyiv emerged from Istanbul with entrenched positions. Ukraine, backed by its NATO allies, insists on a preliminary ceasefire as a confidence-building measure. Russia, for its part, refuses any truce that does not simultaneously halt Western arms deliveries and Ukraine’s mobilization efforts. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov underscored on Friday that no agreement has been reached on the venue or timing of the next round of talks, reflecting persistent diplomatic friction.
READ MORE: The Language of Respect in World Politics
Operation of the Prisoner Exchange
Location and Logistics
The exchange operation commenced at a pair of border crossings—approximately 50 kilometers apart—on Ukraine’s northern frontier with Belarus. According to a senior Ukrainian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the two parties coordinated through neutral intermediaries to transfer the detainees under heavy security presence. Ukrainian officials have arranged transportation and temporary reception centers, while Russian authorities dispatched buses and medical teams to meet the prisoners on their side of the border.
Profiles of the Exchanged Detainees
Ukraine’s list includes a mix of military personnel, civilian volunteers, and political activists held in Russian-controlled detention facilities. Among them are dozens of soldiers captured in the 2022 siege of Mariupol, as well as civilian medics and journalists accused of “terrorism” by Russian courts. Russia’s roster comprises captured Russian servicemen, mercenaries from private military companies, and Ukrainian nationals sentenced by Ukrainian courts for alleged collaboration or spying.
Medical and Humanitarian Oversight
To ensure compliance with international humanitarian law, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) deployed observers at both exit points. ICRC representatives confirmed that medical screenings were conducted for all prisoners—checking for injuries, chronic conditions, and signs of maltreatment. Separate medical teams stood by to administer urgent care, with priority given to detainees suffering from spinal wounds, post-traumatic stress, and battlefield injuries.
Reactions and Diplomatic Implications
Ukrainian Government Response
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the swap as a “first step in restoring human dignity,” but cautioned that “the real measure of success will be a lasting ceasefire and the release of all unjustly detained civilians.” In televised remarks, Zelenskyy appealed to Western partners to maintain pressure on Moscow for further concessions.
Russian Official Statements
The Kremlin initially remained silent on Friday’s operation, with state-run media offering only sparse coverage. However, Kremlin spokesman Peskov later stated that the exchange was “proceeding in accordance with the Istanbul agreement” and that Russia expects “reciprocal goodwill” from Ukraine in future negotiations. He reiterated Russia’s insistence on linking any ceasefire to a halt in Western military aid.
International and U.S. Reactions
U.S. President Donald Trump, addressing supporters on his Truth Social platform, declared that the swap had been “just completed” and held out hope for “something big” to emerge from the confidence-building measure. White House officials, speaking off-the-record, however, declined to confirm details, emphasizing instead that the United States continues to back Ukraine’s demand for a ceasefire. The U.S. State Department voiced support for the exchange as “a positive gesture,” while urging both parties to resume talks without delay.
European Union and NATO Positions
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell described the exchange as a “welcome development” but warned that “without meaningful progress on a ceasefire, humanitarian concessions remain insufficient.” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg echoed that sentiment, calling on Russia to “seize this opportunity to suspend its illegal aggression against Ukraine.” Several EU capitals, including Berlin and Paris, have suggested imposing new sanctions on Russia if it does not agree to a truce in the coming weeks.
Roadblocks to a Broader Peace Agreement
Unacceptable Russian Demands
A senior Ukrainian official revealed that during the Istanbul talks, Russian negotiators presented new conditions—demanding the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from territories that Russia claims to have annexed in 2022. This proposal, which was never part of either side’s official agenda, was immediately rejected by Kyiv and its Western backers as a pretext to cement territorial gains.
Ukrainian Non-Negotiable Conditions
Ukraine has maintained a firm stance: any ceasefire must be followed by a reversal of Russian annexations, restoration of Ukrainian sovereignty over occupied regions, and accountability for war crimes. Kyiv insists that a complete Russian withdrawal from internationally recognized Ukrainian borders is non-negotiable, a position shared by the United States and the European Union.
Russian Strategic Calculations
Analysts note that President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to agree to a ceasefire without concessions on arms deliveries underscores Moscow’s broader war aims—to secure buffer zones in Eastern Ukraine and weaken Ukraine’s military capacity over time. Kremlin-aligned media have repeatedly framed Western military aid as a principal obstacle to peace, bolstering domestic support for continued hostilities.
Human and Military Toll on the Front Line
Stalemate and Attrition
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the front line has extended over 1,000 kilometers, from Kharkiv in the northeast to Kherson in the south. Both armies have suffered heavy casualties—tens of thousands of soldiers dead or wounded—and civilian tolls continue to mount with periodic shelling of towns and villages. The lack of a ceasefire has hindered prisoner-of-war exchanges, humanitarian corridors, and rebuilding of critical infrastructure.
Escalating Drone and Missile Attacks
In the days surrounding the swap, Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported downing 788 Ukrainian drones between May 20 and 23, most over rear-area supply lines. Ukraine’s air force, in turn, said Russia launched 175 Shahed and other unmanned aerial vehicles as well as a ballistic missile targeting Kherson. Such nightly drone barrages have become routine, inflicting both material damage and psychological trauma on civilians.
Outlook and Next Steps
Potential for Renewed Negotiations
Following the swap, Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan indicated that both parties had expressed willingness to reconvene—though no date or venue has been confirmed. Diplomats in Geneva and Vienna are exploring neutral sites for an expanded format that might include U.S. and EU mediators. Kyiv insists that any new round must produce a roadmap for a temporary ceasefire. Moscow has yet to respond to proposals for involving third-party guarantors.
Role of International Mediators
Turkey’s engagement in facilitating the Istanbul exchange has raised Ankara’s profile as a mediator. Meanwhile, Qatar and Egypt have offered to host follow-up discussions. The United Nations, through envoy Geir Pedersen, has proposed a hybrid framework linking humanitarian pauses with discrete working groups on sanctions relief, prisoner exchanges, and reconstruction aid.
Humanitarian Imperatives
Amid stalled diplomacy, civilian populations on both sides continue to bear the brunt of the conflict. International agencies stress the need for nesting any future talks within a broader humanitarian framework—encompassing safe zones, mine clearance, and rebuilding of hospitals and schools. Without such measures, the war’s human cost is likely to spiral further, and the prospects for reconciliation will dim.
A Fragile Gesture in a Protracted Conflict
The commencement of this large-scale prisoner swap represents a modest but meaningful gesture in a war that has defied numerous calls for peace. While the exchange illustrates that even the most bitter adversaries can find common ground on humanitarian issues, the absence of parallel progress on a ceasefire underscores the gulf between Kyiv’s and Moscow’s war aims. As the first buses departed the crossing points, carrying men and women once condemned by enemy courts, they carried also the hopes—and the heavy doubts—of millions who yearn for an end to the fighting. Whether this prisoner swap will serve as a genuine steppingstone toward peace, or simply a fleeting reprieve in a conflict defined by its intractability, remains to be seen.
