Russia has exchanged prisoners with Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry announced, as quoted by TASS and Reuters. This happened after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in a telephone conversation with his American counterpart Donald Trump that such an exchange was imminent, BTA reported.
Each side has handed over 175 prisoners of war to the other. As a gesture of goodwill, Moscow has also handed over 22 seriously wounded Ukrainian prisoners of war who need urgent medical care.
The Defense Ministry said that the United Arab Emirates assisted in the exchange as a mediator.
The Russian soldiers released as part of the deal are in Belarus and are waiting to be transported to Russia, it added. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the exchange.