Archive · 16 Nov 2025
Ukraine Pursues Prisoner Exchange With Russia Based on Istanbul Agreements
Ukraine wants to swap prisoners with Russia again to bring home many of their people.
Ukraine's president and security chief are talking with helpers from Turkey and the United Arab Emirates to make this happen.
They want to use old rules, called the 'Istanbul agreements,' which helped swap lots of prisoners before in 2022.
Ukraine hopes to get 1,200 of their citizens back from Russia.
They are planning more talks soon to figure out the exact details.
The goal is to have these Ukrainians home for the New Year and Christmas holidays.
They have done this before, and over 5,000 Ukrainians have already been returned.
Ukraine is negotiating with Russia to resume prisoner exchanges, aiming to free 1,200 Ukrainians.
The effort is based on reviving the 'Istanbul agreements,' which are understandings brokered with Turkish mediation in 2022 for organized prisoner swaps.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Security Council Secretary Rustem Umerov are leading consultations, with mediation from Turkey and the UAE.
Technical talks are planned soon to finalize the procedural and organizational details for the exchanges.
Ukraine hopes to have released prisoners home for the New Year and Christmas holidays.
- Who
- Ukraine (President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov), Russia
- What
- Ukraine is negotiating with Russia for a prisoner exchange aimed at releasing 1,200 Ukrainians, seeking to revive the 'Istanbul agreements'.
- When
- Consultations are ongoing; technical talks for procedural details are planned for the near future. Ukraine hopes for releases by the New Year and Christmas holidays. The 'Istanbul agreements' were initially brokered in 2022.
- Where
- Consultations are mediated by Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. The 'Istanbul agreements' were brokered in Istanbul.
- Why
- To facilitate the release of 1,200 Ukrainian prisoners held by Russia and to potentially revive negotiations to end the war.
Ukraine's Stance
Russia's Stance
Resumption of Prisoner Exchanges
Ukraine's Stance
Ukraine is actively negotiating with Russia to resume prisoner exchanges and secure the release of 1,200 Ukrainians. President Zelenskyy stated the goal is to revive the 'Istanbul agreements' to achieve this, aiming for releases by the New Year and Christmas holidays. Consultations with Turkey and the UAE are underway.
Russia's Stance
Russia has not issued a direct statement on the latest Ukrainian proposals. However, Russia has participated in past prisoner exchanges based on the 'Istanbul agreements' brokered in 2022. The resumption of these exchanges is contingent on ongoing negotiations and the evolving conflict.
Framework for Exchanges
Ukraine's Stance
Ukraine emphasizes the reactivation of the 'Istanbul agreements,' which provided a framework for large, organized prisoner exchanges in 2022, as the basis for current negotiations.
Russia's Stance
While Russia has not explicitly commented on the current negotiations, its past involvement in exchanges under the 'Istanbul agreements' suggests a potential willingness to engage within that established framework.
- Objective
- Resume prisoner exchanges and release 1,200 Ukrainians
- Framework
- Istanbul agreements (brokered 2022)
- Key Ukrainian Figures
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov
- Mediation Support
- Turkey, United Arab Emirates
- Target Timeline
- New Year and Christmas holidays
- Previous Exchanges (as of July)
- 5,857 Ukrainians returned
Sources
Ukraine seeking exchange of 1,200 prisoners with Russia
Ukraine seeking exchange of 1,200 prisoners with Russia
Ukraine says ready to resume prisoner exchange with Russia
Ukraine seeks revival of Istanbul deal to secure release of 1,200 prisoners from Russia
