Major Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap is underway, official says
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A major prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine is underway, a senior Ukrainian official said Friday.

The swap is not yet finished, the official told the Associated Press, despite President Donald Trump declaring Friday that Russia and Ukraine completed a “major prisoners swap.” 

The announcements come after Russian and Ukrainian officials took part in direct talks in Turkey last Friday for the first time since the early days of the war, agreeing to release around 1,000 prisoners of war. 

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

donald trump and vladimir putin

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on Monday, May 19. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images | Photographer: Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images | Fox News Digital)

Putin, in a statement after the call, also noted that “a ceasefire with Ukraine is possible” but noted that “Russia and Ukraine must find compromises that suit both sides.” 

The Kremlin then said Thursday that both sides had no direct peace talks scheduled. 

Russian soldiers prepare to fire at Ukraine

In this photo taken from a video distributed by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Thursday, May 15, Russian Army soldiers prepare a 152mm howitzer Giatsint-B to fire on Ukrainian positions in Ukraine.  (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

“There is no concrete agreement about the next meetings,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to the Associated Press. “They are yet to be agreed upon.” 

Fox News Digital’s Morgan Phillips contributed to this report. 

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