Russia-Ukraine war: Zelenskyy proposes full prisoner swap with Russia to end ongoing conflict
PTC Web Desk: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proposed a complete exchange of prisoners of war (POWs) with Russia as a step toward ending the ongoing conflict, as per news agency AFP.
"Russia must release Ukrainians. Ukraine is ready to exchange all for all, and this is a fair way to start," Zelenskyy stated during a summit in Kyiv, marking three years since the war began.
This comes after Ukraine and Russia, with mediation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), swapped 95 prisoners each in October 2024. Prior to that, both nations exchanged 103 prisoners in September. According to Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's parliamentary commissioner for human rights, this was the 58th such exchange since hostilities erupted in 2022.
Earlier in the day, Zelenskyy praised Ukraine’s resilience, calling it "three years of resistance and heroism." His remarks follow his recent statement that he would be willing to step down as President in exchange for Ukraine securing NATO membership. "If there is peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to leave my post, I am ready. I can exchange it for NATO," Zelenskyy said during a press conference in Kyiv.
Zelenskyy has urged US President Donald Trump to offer security guarantees against Russian aggression. Speaking ahead of the war’s third anniversary, he mentioned ongoing discussions with the US about providing critical natural resources in exchange for security assistance.
Tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy have escalated, with Trump describing the Ukrainian leader "a dictator" and advocating for fresh elections in Ukraine. In response, Zelenskyy accused Trump of falling for Russian propaganda.
- With inputs from agencies
