Russia said Sunday it had exchanged another 303 Ukrainian prisoners of war for the same number of Russian soldiers held by Kyiv — the last phase of the largest-ever such swap between the warring countries.
“In accordance with the Russian-Ukrainian agreements reached in Istanbul on May 16, the Russian and Ukrainian sides have (over the weekend) carried out the exchange of 1,000 people for 1,000 people,” Russia’s defense ministry said, amid international pressure for a ceasefire.
Russia and Ukraine had over three days “carried out the exchange of 1,000 people for 1,000 people,” the defense ministry said.
President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the swap was complete.
Both sides received 390 people in the first stage on Friday and 307 in the second stage on Saturday.
Russia has signaled it will send Ukraine its terms for a peace settlement after the exchange, without saying what those terms would be.
