Russia and Ukraine Swap 84 Prisoners Each Ahead of Trump-Putin Alaska Summit

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

Kyiv/Moscow _ Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, Russia and Ukraine carried out a prisoner exchange on Thursday, with each side releasing 84 detainees.

According to Kyiv’s official statement, the freed Ukrainians include long-held captives and several defenders of Mariupol — the strategic Black Sea port city that endured a brutal three-month siege before falling to Russian forces in 2022.

The timing of the exchange is being widely seen as a confidence-building measure before the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump on Friday in Alaska.
While neither Moscow nor Kyiv has confirmed whether the swap was directly linked to the summit, political analysts suggest it could help create a more constructive atmosphere for potential negotiations on ending the conflict.

Mariupol holds a central place in Ukraine’s war narrative. Defended fiercely by Ukrainian forces, including members of the Azov Regiment, the city endured relentless shelling and shortages before surrendering in May 2022. Thursday’s exchange marks one of the largest releases of Mariupol defenders in recent months, rekindling hopes among families of those still detained.

The Alaska summit is expected to focus on ceasefire frameworks, humanitarian relief channels, and the broader path to peace. Trump has repeatedly claimed he could end the war swiftly if both sides engage seriously, while Putin has expressed readiness for talks but maintains his strategic demands.

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