Russia and Ukraine conduct large prisoner exchange after Putin Trump call

KYIV – Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 175 prisoners of war each, both sides said on March 19, following a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in which the swop was discussed.

In total, 372 prisoners were exchanged. Russia handed over an additional 22 heavily wounded Ukrainian prisoners, both sides confirmed.

The Russian Defence Ministry said the 22 were in need of urgent medical care and had been returned in what it described as a goodwill gesture.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a statement on social media platform X described the exchange as one of the largest of its kind and said the 22 Ukrainians were “severely wounded warriors and those whom Russia persecuted for fabricated crimes”.

He added: “All of them will immediately receive the necessary medical and psychological assistance.”

Russia’s Defence Ministry said the United Arab Emirates had used mediation efforts of “a humanitarian nature” to facilitate the deal.

It added that the Russian soldiers freed in the deal were in Belarus receiving medical and psychological care before being transported to Russia for further treatment. REUTERS

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