U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that a major prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine has been completed, describing the development as a potential turning point in efforts to ease tensions between the two countries.
“A major prisoners swap was just completed between Russia and Ukraine. It will go into effect shortly. Congratulations to both sides on this negotiation. This could lead to something big???,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, his social media platform.
The exchange follows a landmark agreement reached earlier this month during face-to-face talks in Istanbul, the first direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow in more than three years. As part of the deal, each side agreed to release 1,000 prisoners of war, according to Ukrainian military intelligence.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed this week that Kyiv had submitted a verified list of 1,000 names to the Kremlin, while Russian officials acknowledged receiving the proposal and were preparing a reciprocal list.
The swap is seen as a rare diplomatic breakthrough amid continued hostilities along the Russia-Ukraine border, where both sides have engaged in intensified military operations. The agreement has been cautiously welcomed by international observers as a confidence-building measure that could pave the way for further humanitarian or political negotiations.
While the prisoner exchange marks a positive step, broader efforts to end the conflict remain stalled. Ukrainian and U.S. officials continue to call for the withdrawal of Russian forces and the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, while the Kremlin insists on securing a new “security buffer zone” along the border.
Whether the exchange leads to renewed peace efforts remains to be seen, but Trump’s comment suggests the White House views the deal as a potential catalyst for broader talks.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 15 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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Iran says it is open to talks with countries seeking safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz - disrupted by recent attacks - as Israel continues to launch wide‑scale strikes on Iranian infrastructure in the west. This live report tracks the latest developments.
Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery and a key port in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region overnight (13-14 March), local authorities said, causing injuries and damage. In separate action, Russian air attacks on Ukrainian territory killed and wounded civilians near Kyiv, officials reported.
Canada and the five Nordic countries have agreed to deepen cooperation in military procurement and other areas, in the latest push by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to build new global alliances.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials launched a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 March) to resolve issues in their trade truce. The discussions aim to smooth the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.
Ukraine wants money and technology in return for helping Middle Eastern nations that have sought its expertise as they defend against Iranian kamikaze drones, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, after Kyiv sent specialists to the region.
French voters head to the polls on Sunday (15 March) to elect their mayors in a closely watched ballot seen as a test of the strength of the far-right and the resilience of mainstream parties ahead of next year's presidential vote.
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