Russia and Ukraine exchange hundreds of prisoners in first step of large-scale swap • FRANCE 24

[Music] It is the first phase in a rare moment of cooperation between Russia and Ukraine. Both sides said they each released 270 soldiers and 120 civilian detainees with more due to be freed on Saturday and Sunday. The released Ukrainians arrived in buses and filed out to be wrapped in Ukrainian flags. This is the first stage of the largest exchange agreed upon in Turkey. In fact, this is the only significant result of the meeting in Turkey. The Russians are blocking everything else. For now, they are blocking it. But the return of our people is exactly what we are always working for. The freed Russians are currently in Belarus, which neighbors Ukraine. They include civilians captured inside Russia’s Kursk region during Ukraine’s incursion, as well as soldiers. I’m very happy to be back home. I’m filled with a warm feeling because I will see my family, my relatives, my children, and those close to me. Russia and Ukraine agreed in Istanbul last week to exchange 1,000 prisoners from each side in what were their first direct peace talks since the early weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Russia says it will send draft peace terms to Ukraine once the current prisoner swap is complete. The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, announced on Thursday, meanwhile, that Russian forces were creating a security buffer zone along Ukraine’s borders. A move that Keefe sees as more proof that the Kremlin does not seek a peaceful settlement.

Ukraine and Russia each exchanged 390 prisoners on Friday (May 23), beginning a major prisoner swap aiming to free 1,000 prisoners on each side over three days. The enemies have held regular exchanges since Russia launched its 2022 attack, but none have been on this scale.
#Ukraine #Russia #war

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8 comments

  1. How does the Kremlin function? The war in Afghanistan 1979-1989, Russian forces killed about 83,000 Afghan fighters in battles with Afghan forces. And they murdered about 1,400,000 civilians, including women and children. So, by necessity, they could not have planned to kill only Afghan fighters in the village, they had to deliberately and planned to murder "THE WHOLE VILLAGE" and it does not matter whether there were any Afghan fighters at that moment, it did not matter!!! It is the same as in the current war, two passenger planes were shot down deliberately and intentionally. The Kremlin is such a thing that they have maximum chaos, no matter what the norms are. In fact, we do not know how the Kremlin works, how it is with drinking alcohol in the Kremlin, do they drink little, medium or a lot (?). Alcohol is definitely harmful, a lot!!! They have a pathology there. Warmest regards! Herman Knippenberg. G0263

  3. How about Trump announces this:

    1. Putin as a war criminal

    2. Putin as the invader, and one who STARTED this war (''which should have NEVER started in the first place'')

    3. Sanctions on Putin's WAR MACHINE (and propaganda machine – working hard in the US since social media took over our lives)

    4. Secondary sanctions on Putin's trading partners (instead of putting 10% tariffs on Ukraine who's too busy fighting a DEFENSIVE WAR

    5. Say he'll NEVER withhold US intelligence from America's allies (like Ukraine – DURING A WAR)

    6. Admit Putin is stringing him along and purposefully delaying peace since he knows the US isn't sending any concrete support to Ukraine.

    7. Admit ONCE that he was wrong…..?

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