Russia ties peace deal with Ukraine to prisoner exchange completion
3 Min Read
Russia says it will present Ukraine with peace deal terms once a major prisoner exchange is complete, following a major swap earlier today.
-
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attends a ceremony to present the highest state awards in the Catherine Hall of the Kremlin's Senate Palace in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, May 22, 2025 (AP)
Russia will be ready to present Ukraine with a draft outlining the conditions for a long-term peace settlement once the ongoing prisoner exchange is concluded, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday.
Lavrov: Russia ready to share peace terms
In a statement posted on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s website, Lavrov emphasized Moscow’s commitment to a peaceful resolution in the war against Kiev, now in its fourth year. He confirmed that Russia is finalizing a document detailing the terms of a potential settlement.
“As soon as the exchange of prisoners of war is completed, we will be ready to hand to the Ukrainian side a draft of such a document which the Russian side is now completing,” Lavrov said. “We remain committed to a peace settlement...and we are committed to the agreements recently reached in Istanbul.”
Ukraine launches drone attacks amid peace efforts
Ukraine is also launching extensive drone attacks on Russian territory, according to Lavrov, who detailed that over 800 drones targeted various sites in recent days, causing casualties and disrupting civilian air traffic. He called the drone campaign a deliberate attempt to sabotage the peace process.
While Ukraine has not directly commented on the drone campaign, it acknowledged striking a battery plant in Russia’s central Lipetsk region on Friday.
Lavrov further accused European countries of encouraging Ukraine’s actions, citing recent visits by EU leaders to Kiev. “We are certain that they will be held accountable for their share of responsibility for these crimes,” he said. Lavrov claimed the strikes were intended to derail progress made during US-Russia brokered talks in Istanbul.
Prisoner swap agreement reached in Turkey
On Friday, both Russia and Ukraine released 390 prisoners each under an agreement reached last week during bilateral talks in Turkey. Officials on both sides have indicated additional releases are expected in the coming days.
According to a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry, each country repatriated 270 military personnel and 120 civilians, following an agreement reached during negotiations held in Istanbul on May 16.
"On May 23, in accordance with the Russian-Ukrainian agreements reached on May 16 in Istanbul, 270 Russian servicemen, as well as 120 civilians, including civilians captured by the Ukrainian armed forces in the Kursk region, were returned from the territory controlled by the Kiev regime. In return, 270 prisoners of war of the armed forces of Ukraine and 120 civilians were transferred back," the ministry stated.
JUST IN - First footage of prisoner swap between Russia and US of Griner and Boutpic.twitter.com/ZVu4eoajZ2
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) December 8, 2022
