In talks held in Istanbul earlier this month that marked the first time the two sides met face-to-face for peace talks since Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners of war and civilian detainees each.

The first direct Ukraine-Russia talks did not deliver a ceasefire but it did result in the largest prisoner swap of the war. CHERNIHIV REGION, Ukraine — For hours Friday, a crowd of hopefuls stood on the roadside wrapped in blue-and-yellow flags and clutching photos of captured Ukrainian soldiers — their eyes peeled for any sign of buses.

A phone call between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin included talk of a prisoner swap involving nine Americans and nine Russians, a report said.