Trump says Russia-Ukraine prisoners swap accomplished, hints at ‘one thing large’

US President Donald Trump introduced on Friday {that a} main prisoner swap between the 2 nations has been accomplished within the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

“A major prisoners swap was just completed between Russia and Ukraine. It will go into effect shortly. Congratulations to both sides on this negotiation. This could lead to something big???,” Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social.

A prisoner alternate between Ukraine and Russia is below means however has not but been accomplished, as reported by the information company Reuters.

The announcement comes a day after a Ukrainian navy intelligence official confirmed that Ukraine had submitted an inventory of 1,000 prisoners of conflict to Russia in preparation for the swap.

The alternate deal was reportedly finalised earlier this month in Istanbul throughout the first direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian officers in additional than three years.

Hundreds of 1000’s of troopers on either side are believed to have been wounded or killed in Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two, though neither aspect publishes correct casualty figures. Tens of 1000’s of Ukrainian civilians have additionally died as Russian forces have besieged and bombarded Ukrainian cities.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has stated it’s prepared for a 30-day ceasefire instantly. However, Russia — which launched the conflict by invading its neighbour in 2022 and now occupies a couple of fifth of Ukrainian territory — has refused to pause its assaults till sure situations are met. A member of the Ukrainian delegation known as these situations “non-starters”.

Trump, who has shifted US coverage from supporting Ukraine in direction of accepting a few of Russia’s account of the conflict, had beforehand said that he may tighten sanctions on Russia if Moscow blocked a peace deal. However, after talking to President Vladimir Putin on Monday, he determined to take no motion for now.

Moscow says it’s prepared for peace talks whereas combating continues, and it desires to deal with what it calls the conflict’s “root causes”. These embody calls for that Ukraine cede extra territory, be disarmed, and barred from becoming a member of navy alliances with the West. Kyiv has rejected these phrases, calling them tantamount to give up and a menace to its future safety.

With Reuters inputs

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