Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that negotiations for a prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia are ongoing, with plans for a new exchange in the near future. He made these remarks during a press briefing.
“Our discussions with the American group are continuing, primarily through phone and online communications. There have been exchanges, and this track remains crucial for Ukraine. Recently, we have successfully brought many people home, and we are now anticipating another exchange. Hopefully, everything will go smoothly,” Zelensky stated.
He also addressed the potential visit of U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Kyiv. “Yes, we are expecting them. I believe they will come. Currently, the war in Ukraine is our top priority, while for Americans, the situation in Iran takes precedence. However, Ukraine remains a critical topic, and we have discussed this with our negotiating team. We look forward to the meeting,” he added.
On April 11, just before Easter, Ukraine successfully repatriated 175 defenders and seven civilians from Russian captivity. Following this, on April 12, Kyrylo Budanov, head of the President’s Office, announced that preparations for another prisoner exchange are underway.
Previous Prisoner Exchanges
On July 28, 2025, Zelensky reported that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion by Russia, Ukraine has managed to return 5,857 individuals from captivity, with over 550 more returned outside of formal exchanges. On August 3, he mentioned an agreement with Russia for the exchange of 1,200 individuals, indicating that work on the relevant lists is ongoing.
On August 14, 84 Ukrainians, including military personnel and civilians, were returned home from Russian captivity. A subsequent exchange on August 24 saw the return of military personnel and eight civilians who had been unlawfully detained by Russia.
On October 2, 2025, the 69th prisoner exchange occurred, bringing back 185 military personnel and 20 civilians. On February 5, 2026, 157 individuals, including both military and civilians, were returned to Ukraine, with an equal number sent to Russia.
On March 5, 2026, 200 individuals, including soldiers from the Armed Forces, the State Special Transport Service, border guards, and National Guard members, were released from Russian captivity. The following day, 300 Ukrainian servicemen and two civilians were also repatriated.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that on March 6, Ukraine transferred 300 Russian servicemen to them, currently held in Belarus before their return to Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced ongoing negotiations for a new prisoner exchange with Russia, highlighting recent successful repatriations. He also discussed the anticipated visit of U.S. representatives to Kyiv amid the ongoing conflict.