Russia and Ukraine agree major prisoner exchange after talks

During negotiations in Istanbul, Ukraine and Russia agreed to exchange all prisoners of war who are severely wounded, as well as all prisoners under the age of 25. They also agreed to exchange the remains of soldiers who were killed.

"We agreed to exchange all-for-all seriously wounded and seriously sick prisoners of war. The second category is young soldiers who are from 18 to 25 years old — all-for-all. Also we agreed to return 6,000 bodies of fallen soldiers," Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov told reporters.

Vladimir Medinsky, the lead Russian negotiator, confirmed the agreement on the POW exchange, adding that Russia is planning to swap at least 1,000 soldiers.

He also said Russia had suggested a ceasefire of two to three days in certain areas. 

"We have proposed a specific ceasefire for two to three days in certain areas of the front line so that commanders can collect the bodies of their soldiers," Medinsky said.

Ukraine is pushing for a full and unconditional ceasefire. However, Russia rejected this proposal at the peace negotiations in Istanbul, according to Kyiv negotiator Sergiy Kyslytsya.

The biggest prisoner swap up to date , which took place in May, was the only tangible result of the previous round of the Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul.