Putin told Trump will not ‘give up' aims in Ukraine: Kremlin
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Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Russia, Ukraine announce fresh prisoner swap
KYIV: Russia and Ukraine announced a fresh prisoner swap on Friday as part of agreements reached between them during talks in Istanbul last month. The warring sides have swapped POWs throughout Russia's more than three-year invasion. At recent talks in Istanbul, they agreed to free all heavily wounded, ill and under 25-year-old captive troops. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky published photographs of freed Ukrainian troops, wrapped in blue and yellow flags. 'Our people are home. Most of them had been held in Russian captivity since 2022,' he said on social media. Zelensky said they included servicemen from the army, national guard, border service and transport service, adding: 'And also civilians.' He did not say how many Ukrainians had been returned. 'Ukraine's goal is to free all our people from Russian captivity,' Zelensky said. Russia's defense ministry also reported the swap, saying Kyiv handed over a group of its servicemen who were currently in Moscow-allied Belarus. It also did not say how many troops were exchanged. Russia is believed to hold thousands of Ukrainian prisoners, many of whom were captured in the first year of Moscow's offensive when Russian troops advanced deep into the country. Kyiv also holds many Russian captives, although that number is believed to be considerably smaller.
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Russia, Ukraine announce fresh prisoner swap
Russia and Ukraine announced a fresh prisoner swap on Friday as part of agreements reached between them during talks in Istanbul last month. The warring sides have swapped POWs throughout Russia's more than three-year invasion. At recent talks in Istanbul, they agreed to free all heavily wounded, ill and under 25-year-old captive troops. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy published photographs of freed Ukrainian troops, wrapped in blue and yellow flags. 'Our people are home. Most of them had been held in Russian captivity since 2022,' he said on social media. Zelenskyy said they included servicemen from the army, national guard, border service and transport service, adding: 'And also civilians.' He did not say how many Ukrainians had been returned. 'Ukraine's goal is to free all our people from Russian captivity,' Zelenskyy said. Russia's defense ministry also reported the swap, saying Kyiv handed over a group of its servicemen who were currently in Moscow-allied Belarus. It also did not say how many troops were exchanged. Russia is believed to hold thousands of Ukrainian prisoners, many of whom were captured in the first year of Moscow's offensive when Russian troops advanced deep into the country. Kyiv also holds many Russian captives, although that number is believed to be considerably smaller.
Asharq Al-Awsat
an hour ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Sources to Asharq Al-Awsat: Hamas Likely to Accept Two-Month Gaza Truce Proposal
Hamas is leaning toward accepting a US-backed proposal for a two-month ceasefire in Gaza, with a formal response expected within hours, sources from the Palestinian group told Asharq Al-Awsat on Thursday. The proposed truce, reportedly accepted by Israel earlier this week according to US President Donald Trump, would mark a major breakthrough in efforts to end the months-long war. Hamas has begun informing mediators that it intends to respond 'positively' either late Thursday or early Friday, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity. They did not explain the reason for the delay but said 'technical arrangements' were still being finalized. One source described the situation as similar to the lead-up to a previous truce agreement reached in January. 'All indicators are positive,' one Hamas source said. 'We are closer than ever to a new agreement. The recent movements clearly show we are in the pre-announcement phase.' On Wednesday, Hamas leadership referred the proposal to other Palestinian factions for consultation, seeking to secure a united stance on any eventual deal. However, the deliberations were marked by caution, with one source warning of 'traps' in the draft proposal and noting that the clause related to a 'clear end to the war' remained vague. A source close to Hamas told Reuters on Thursday that the group was seeking 'guarantees that the American proposal will lead to a permanent end to the war,' as Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip continued to kill dozens, according to medics. Ceasefire negotiations over the war in Gaza have intensified, with the United States and other mediators pushing for a temporary deal that would pave the way for a second phase of talks aimed at reaching a comprehensive agreement to end the 20-month-old conflict, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives. Despite diplomatic momentum, Israeli airstrikes continued across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing more than 100 Palestinians, including dozens waiting for humanitarian aid, according to local health authorities. The Hamas-run health ministry said at least 118 people were killed in Israeli attacks from dawn until late Thursday, with 581 others wounded. In a Facebook post, the ministry said hospitals in Gaza had received the bodies of 118 people in the past 24 hours. The Palestinian civil defense said its crews retrieved 10 bodies and several wounded after an Israeli strike hit the Mustafa Hafez School, which was sheltering displaced people in western Gaza City early Thursday.
