Zelenskyy draws attention to 1,000-for-1,000 POW swap deal: It was agreed with US mediation

May 30, 2026 - 15:10

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed the need to continue prisoner exchanges with Russia, including implementing the 1,000-for-1,000 exchange agreed in early May.

Source: Zelenskyy in his evening address on 30 May

Details: Zelenskyy said he had held a meeting with Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the President's Office, Rustem Umierov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, and Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal.

Quote: "We are working to invigorate all channels of communication with the United States. We expect visits and negotiations. We are in constant contact on this at the team level. We need to continue prisoner exchanges. At the beginning of May, with US mediation specifically, we agreed on a 1,000-for-1,000 format. All this must be implemented. New talks will also take place in Europe; we are actively preparing for them right now."

Background:

On 8 May, US President Donald Trump announced a three-day ceasefire in the war between Ukraine and Russia and an agreement on a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange. Zelenskyy confirmed the information and announced the exchange.
On 10 May, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine expects its American partners to ensure that the agreements with Russia on the prisoner exchange are implemented.
On 15 May, Ukraine and Russia carried out the first stage of the prisoner exchange, during which 205 Ukrainian citizens were returned.
On 16 May, Zelenskyy said that work is ongoing on drawing up lists for the next stage of the exchange under the 1,000-for-1,000 agreement. However, no further exchanges have taken place since then.