Camilla Jessen
Donald Trump has revealed that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a massive 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that Russia and Ukraine have reached an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each.
“Congratulations to both sides on the successful conclusion of the negotiations,” Trump wrote. “Can this lead to something more?”
The deal was reportedly finalized during direct talks held in Istanbul on May 16 — the first face-to-face negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian representatives in three years.
Largest Exchange to Date
According to Russian officials speaking to The Moscow Times, the prisoner exchange — described as a “1000 for 1000” format — will be conducted in stages over three days, from May 23 to 25.
The first transfer will include 300 prisoners from each side, said Vladimir Rogov, chairman of the Russian Federation’s Public Chamber Commission on Sovereignty.
State Duma deputy Shamsail Saraliev confirmed that logistical and technical complexities make a single-day exchange impractical, necessitating the multi-day rollout.
The last confirmed prisoner swap took place on May 6, involving 205 prisoners from each side.
Before that, a 246-person exchange occurred around Easter, which was previously described as the largest since the war began — a title now surpassed by this new agreement.
UAE Facilitated the Deal
The United Arab Emirates is reported to have played a key role in mediating the exchange.
Emirati officials have been involved in several past negotiations and were praised by both parties for their neutrality and diplomatic support.
Beyond the prisoner swap, the Istanbul talks also produced preliminary discussions on a potential ceasefire.
While President Vladimir Putin rejected an immediate truce, he proposed preparing a memorandum on future peace efforts, which would include principles for a long-term settlement, a timeline for a ceasefire, and preconditions for a broader peace agreement.
Kremlin officials acknowledged that no deadline has been set for finalizing the peace document.
However, sources cited by Bloomberg suggest that another round of negotiations may occur between May 26 and June 1, although the location has yet to be determined.