Ukraine is expecting what could become the largest prisoner exchange with Russia since the beginning of the war, with more than 1,000 people from each side likely to be released as Washington steps up diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the conflict.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that Kyiv was taking seriously assurances from its American partners that the proposed exchange would be the biggest of the war. He added that Ukrainian intelligence agencies, special services and the coordination headquarters were working to make the exchange happen.“We count on a truly large-scale prisoner exchange, and we take very seriously the wording our American partners are using: that this should be the largest exchange of this war. More than a thousand people from each side,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X.He said the proposed exchange was particularly important for thousands of Ukrainian families waiting for the return of their relatives and that he expected a report on the preparations shortly.The proposed exchange comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts led by the United States to end the Russia-Ukraine war.US President Donald Trump’s special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have held separate meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy in an effort to advance negotiations.The US envoys met Putin in Moscow before holding discussions with Zelenskyy in Ireland on November 13. The meeting with the Ukrainian President focused on the next steps towards ending the conflict and establishing security guarantees for Kyiv.The discussions with Putin also covered humanitarian cooperation, including preparations for a prisoner exchange. Zelenskyy said Kyiv had agreed with the American envoys on the next steps, expressing hope that Washington and Ukraine would work together towards a lasting peace.Apart from the proposed prisoner exchange, Zelenskyy highlighted the outcomes of his recent diplomatic engagements with European leaders, including a defence assistance package worth 645 million euros from Denmark.The package will include additional ammunition for F-16 fighter jets and energy assistance for Ukraine. Zelenskyy said the ammunition would help Ukrainian aircraft intercept Russian jet-powered Shahed drones.
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