Russia, Ukraine agree to exchange prisoners 

Ukraine and Russia agreed Friday to exchange 1,000 prisoners each “in the near future”.

The agreement came after 90 minutes of talks in Istanbul, only the second time in the more than three years since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour that the two have spoken directly. 

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced this.

The first talks came shortly after Russia started its full-scale war on February 24, 2022.

Observers had expected little from the negotiations after it was announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not attend.

Shortly before the Istanbul announcement, Ukraine said it had received the remains of 909 soldiers from Russia, while the Russian media reported that the Russian side received 34 bodies.

Rustem Umerov did not specify the date of the swap, but noted that the exchange will take place soon. We know the date, but we won't name it yet, Umerov said.