Russia & Ukraine swap 84 POWs each ahead of Trump-Putin summit
In a significant development, Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 84 prisoners of war (POWs) from each side, following mediation by the United Arab Emirates. This prisoner swap comes ahead of the highly anticipated summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in Alaska, USA.
According to the Russian Defence Ministry, the prisoner exchange took place on August 14, Thursday. The development is seen as a positive step in de-escalating tensions between the two countries, which have been at odds over the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine.
In a statement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the freed Ukrainians included soldiers and civilians, some of whom had been held captive since 2014. The conflict in eastern Ukraine began in 2014, after Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatist rebels in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
The prisoner swap is seen as a major breakthrough in the wake of the ongoing conflict, which has resulted in the deaths of over 13,000 people and the displacement of millions. The exchange is a testament to the diplomatic efforts of the United Arab Emirates, which has played a key role in mediating the talks between Russia and Ukraine.
The prisoner swap has been welcomed by international leaders, who have hailed the development as a positive step towards resolving the conflict. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, tweeted: “Welcome news on the exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine. This is a step towards reducing tensions and promoting a peaceful resolution to the conflict.”
The prisoner swap comes ahead of the highly anticipated summit between Putin and Trump, which is expected to focus on a range of issues, including the conflict in Ukraine, nuclear disarmament, and trade. The summit is seen as an opportunity for the two leaders to reset their relationship, which has been strained in recent years.
In a statement, the White House said that the summit would focus on “a range of critical issues” and that the two leaders would “discuss ways to address global challenges and strengthen our partnership.” The summit is seen as a key moment in the relationship between Russia and the United States, which has been marked by tensions over issues such as election interference, hacking, and military interventions.
The prisoner swap is a significant development in the wake of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has resulted in the deaths of over 13,000 people and the displacement of millions. The exchange is a testament to the diplomatic efforts of the United Arab Emirates, which has played a key role in mediating the talks between Russia and Ukraine.
In conclusion, the prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine is a significant development in the wake of the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine. The exchange of 84 POWs from each side is a testament to the diplomatic efforts of the United Arab Emirates and marks a positive step towards resolving the conflict. The development comes ahead of the highly anticipated summit between Putin and Trump, which is expected to focus on a range of issues, including the conflict in Ukraine, nuclear disarmament, and trade.
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