Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kyiv halts Putin’s advance in Sumy after new prisoner swap deal agreed
Ukraine has received from Russia a number of its soldiers who were hailed as “heroes” for their role in defending besieged Mariupol, part of the latest prisoner swap between the two countries that was agreed in Istanbul.
Ukraine’s coordination headquarters for the treatment of prisoners of war said the majority of the prisoners had been in Russian custody for more than three years. The swap included injured soldiers and those with health complaints.
The youngest is 24 and the oldest is 62, it said, adding that more exchanges are expected soon – in line with the limited progress Moscow and Kyiv have made in peace talks.
Though the Istanbul talks have produced multiple prisoner exchanges, more substantive developments on ceasefire talks have been elusive.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Donald Trump told him he would attend peace talks between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia in Turkey if they took place.
On the frontline, Ukrainian forces have halted Russia’s recent advance into the northern Sumy region and have stabilised the front line near the border with Russia, Ukraine’s top military commander said yesterday.
