In a major step toward easing tensions, Russia and Ukraine exchanged 146 prisoners of conflict on Sunday – the largest swap since their 2025 peace talks. The UAE-mediated deal saw Ukrainian forces return eight residents from Russia's Kursk region, while Moscow released Ukrainian detainees.
From Battlefield to Diplomacy
The exchange follows July's third-round peace talks in Istanbul, where both sides agreed to swap at least 1,200 prisoners each. Russian Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky called this week's move "a confidence-building measure" ahead of future negotiations.
Humanitarian Focus
Russian servicemen are currently receiving psychological and medical support in Belarus before returning home. The Kursk residents involved in the swap had been detained during Ukraine's brief 2024 incursion into the region, later reversed by Russian forces.
What's Next?
While this exchange signals progress, analysts caution that major disagreements over territory and security guarantees remain unresolved. The UAE's growing role as a neutral mediator continues to draw international attention 🌐🤝.
