"200 Ukrainian families received the news they had been waiting for: their loved ones are returning home," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced today.

A video posted by Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets showed Ukrainian servicemen disembarking from buses, draping themselves in the national flag, chanting slogans, and embracing those who came to greet them.

Among the Ukrainian soldiers released this time were those captured since 2022, including fighters from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol.

Russia's Ministry of Defense confirmed on the same day that it had conducted a "200 for 200" prisoner exchange with Ukraine. A video released by the agency showed Russian soldiers draped in the national flag, cheering as they boarded buses.

Moscow and Kyiv stated that this exchange was conducted under an agreement reached by both sides in Geneva, Switzerland last month. Vladimir Medinsky, Russia's chief negotiator, said more prisoners would be released on 6/3, with a total of 500 individuals handed over by each side.

Russia stated that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States mediated the exchange.

Russia and Ukraine have conducted several prisoner exchanges since the start of the conflict. This is one of the few concrete results achieved by both sides in direct negotiations.

Dialogue efforts appear stalled as the United States focuses on the Middle East conflict. Ukraine previously stated plans to hold talks in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, one of the locations currently facing retaliatory strikes from Iran.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on 2/3 suggested changing the venue to Switzerland or Turkey, where previous rounds of negotiations took place.

Pham Giang (According to AFP, Interfax)