Dhaka, Feb 06 (V7N) — Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 157 prisoners of war each, the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed on Thursday, according to Turkey-based Anadolu Agency.

US Ambassador Steve Witkoff said the exchange followed “detailed and fruitful discussions” and that both sides had agreed in principle to a broader exchange involving 314 prisoners of war.

According to Moscow, the released Russian nationals include military personnel as well as civilians. The freed Russian prisoners are currently in Belarus, where they are receiving medical and psychological assistance before being transferred to Russia.

On the other hand, the released Ukrainian prisoners have returned home, Ukrainian authorities confirmed. Russia has also released several Ukrainian civilians as part of the agreement.

The prisoner exchange deal was finalized during the second round of US-mediated trilateral talks held over the past two days in the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

The exchange marks one of the largest prisoner swaps between the two sides in recent months and comes amid continued fighting in the nearly four-year-long Russia-Ukraine war.

END/SMA/AJ