Trump hints at ‘one thing giant’ coming in Ukraine and divulges ‘primary prisoner switch’ between Russia and Kyiv believed to contain 1,000 from each and every aspect

Donald Trump has hinted at ‘one thing giant’ coming in Ukraine and printed that Moscow and Kyiv have agreed at hand over 1,000 prisoners of battle from all sides. 

The American president mentioned on his social media platform, Truth Social: ‘A big prisoners switch was once simply in a while finished between Russia and Ukraine.

‘Congratulations to all sides in this negotiation. This may result in one thing giant???’

Ukrainian officers advised the Financial Times that the switch will see each and every aspect surrender 1,000 prisoners each and every, as agreed throughout peace talks in Turkey that Vladimir Putin failed to wait. 

The swaps have these days begun, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealing: ‘The first level of the ‘1000-for-1000′ trade settlement has been performed. Today – 390 folks. On Saturday and Sunday, we think the trade to proceed.’

Russia’s defence ministry added: ‘270 Russian servicemen and 120 civilians together with non violent citizens of the Kursk area captured through the Ukrainian military have been returned… In trade, 270 Ukrainian prisoners of battle and 120 civilians have been passed over.’

White House and National Security Council officers didn’t right away reply to requests for additional main points.

The trade was once agreed final week within the first direct Russia-Ukraine peace talks for the reason that early weeks of Moscow’s 2022 invasion of its neighbour. 

That assembly in Turkey lasted simply two hours and taken no step forward in global diplomatic efforts to prevent the combating.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a maeeting with the Crown Prince of Norway in Kyiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Ukrainian prisoners of battle get off a bus after arriving in Ukraine on May 6, 2025 in Chernihiv, Ukraine

 Despite the sure steps, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov persisted to stoke tensions, telling journalists these days that Moscow would now not permit Russian-speakers in Ukraine to stay below the rule of thumb of what he referred to as a ‘junta’ led through President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Lavrov mentioned it will be a ‘crime’ for Russia to permit this to occur. He added that the most simple solution to settle the battle could be for the global neighborhood to call for that Ukraine cancel rules discriminating towards Russian-speakers.

Kyiv denies one of these discrimination.

Lavrov’s feedback highlighted Russia’s insistence, in any peace talks, on implementing the similar calls for it made on the very get started of the battle.

Earlier this month, Russia and Ukraine swapped 205 POWs as a part of an trade mediated through the UAE. 

Countless Ukrainian squaddies are being held in horrific stipulations in Russian prisoners, and are being subjected to bodily and ethical torture, sexual violence, unlawful sentencing and violent execution in line with former POWs.

Volodymyr Labuzov, leader scientific officer of the 36th Marine Brigade, was once one in all them. He was once stationed in Mariupol when Russia began its full-scale invasion in early 2022.

Labuzov advised Euronews that along side squaddies, Vladimir Putin’s country has been protecting hundreds of Ukrainian civilians, together with youngsters, captive ‘who don’t have anything to do with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and so they will have to be returned with none stipulations, with none agreements.’

‘Russia does not make any distinction between the warriors and civilians of their captivity’, Labuzov advised the opening. 

He added that lots of the civilians being held through Russia have been abducted from ‘the territories that Russia allegedly liberated and allegedly introduced them happiness and freedom. But the remedy is identical for each civilians and army staff.’

Currently, it isn’t identified precisely what number of civilians are being held through Russia.  

‘They at the moment are compelled into such stipulations that if you wish to have simply to are living or to even stroll the streets of your villages, you should take Russian citizenship. Without Russian citizenship – you’re a no one, you don’t have any rights,’ Labuzov mentioned.