President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that Ukraine is actively negotiating with Russia to resume prisoner exchanges, with efforts underway to secure the release of approximately 1,200 Ukrainian captives. The statement was made on November 16, 2025, as part of ongoing consultations mediated by Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, confirmed that the parties are seeking to reactivate protocols first brokered in Istanbul in 2022, which previously facilitated large-scale swaps. While Ukraine has emphasized the humanitarian importance of these exchanges, Moscow has not yet issued a formal response to the latest initiative.
The negotiations highlight Ukraine’s commitment to securing the return of its citizens and underscore the role of international mediation in advancing humanitarian priorities amid the ongoing conflict. Prisoner exchanges remain one of the few areas of tangible progress in dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow.
