Russia, Ukraine agree on large-scale POW swap, further talks in Istanbul

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Russia, Ukraine agree on large-scale POW swap, further talks in Istanbul

2025-05-17 13:04 Last Updated At：05-18 00:47

Russian and Ukrainian delegations concluded a two-hour meeting in Türkiye's Istanbul on Friday, agreeing to hold a new round of negotiations and conduct a large-scale prisoner exchange involving 1,000 people from each side.

According to Russian diplomatic sources, Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky said the swap would take place soon. He also expressed overall satisfaction with the meeting and confirmed that Russia is ready to continue the dialogue.

Medinsky noted that both sides will soon present their detailed views on a possible ceasefire, after which the negotiations will move forward.

He also said that Ukraine proposed direct talks between the two presidents and that Russia "took note" of the request.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, quoted by the state-run Anadolu Agency, said both sides focused on three key topics: a ceasefire, the prisoner exchange, and the possibility of a future presidential summit.

Umerov described the agreement on the prisoner swap as "the largest exchange since the beginning of the war."

In a post on X, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who chaired the negotiation, noted that the meeting produced several important outcomes aimed at building trust and laying the foundation for future negotiations.

He said Russia and Ukraine agreed to "share with the other side in writing the conditions that would make it possible to reach a ceasefire," and reached an agreement "to meet again in principle."

"As Türkiye, we will continue to make every effort to enable a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine," he said.

The Istanbul talks follow a proposal by Putin on Sunday to resume direct negotiations with Ukraine. Zelensky has previously said he is open to a face-to-face meeting with Putin. However, the Kremlin said Putin would not attend the talks.

The last direct talks between Ukraine and Russia took place in Istanbul in March 2022, where the two sides failed to agree to halt the fighting.

Inner Mongolia section of Yellow River enters stable ice period after 48 days

The Bayannur section of the Yellow River in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region became fully frozen as of 07:00 Sunday, officially entering its stable winter ice period.

Freezing of the river commenced on December 4, 2025, but repeated thawing and refreezing driven by temperature fluctuations and higher water flow postponed a full, stable freeze-over. The entire process lasted 48 days, 29 days longer than the previous year, making it the longest freezing period for this section in recent years.

In response to the extended and volatile freezing process, local authorities in Bayannur City and districts along the river have intensified their ice-jam prevention efforts. Officials have been conducting thorough inspections to identify and manage any potential obstacles within the river channel that could contribute to dangerous ice dams.

To ensure safety and stability during the frozen season, a 24-hour monitoring and patrol system has been implemented along the riverbanks to watch for any signs of ice-related hazards.