Russia-Ukraine prisoner exchange under Türkiye's mediation 'important step' towards ending war

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that the prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine under Türkiye's mediation is 'an important step' toward ending the war.

He also announced that 200 prisoners of war were exchanged as a result of diplomatic traffic conducted with Russian and Ukrainian presidents.

He said efforts to establish peace between Russia and Ukraine continue.

The president also thanked his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, adding: "I would also like to thank all my friends who contributed to this process."

Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalın hailed the exchange on Twitter, saying: "This exchange, which took place as a result of the intense diplomatic traffic of our President, is one of the most important results of the peace diplomacy pursued by our country. Türkiye always favors peace."

Previously, Erdoğan told both Putin and Zelenskyy that "there is no winner in a war that ends in the deaths of people."

The president said that Türkiye has followed a balanced policy between Russia and Ukraine since the war started in February and favors listening to both presidents at the negotiation table in Türkiye.