Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange today, with each side releasing 150 prisoners of war, according to a statement by the Russian Ministry of Defence.

The statement indicated that the Russian prisoners were released on Belarusian territory and will be transferred to Russia. The United Arab Emirates acted as a mediator in facilitating the exchange, the statement added.

Ukraine repatriated 189 prisoners of war in the latest exchange with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Zelensky expressed gratitude to the United Arab Emirates and other partners for facilitating the exchange.

Earlier today, Moscow voiced its opposition to the potential deployment of a European contingent to Ukraine in the event that peace is achieved.

Speculation about future peace talks has been growing for weeks, following nearly three years of war that have left hundreds of thousands dead or injured.

One proposal being discussed by European governments and Washington involves deploying a European military contingent in Ukraine along a front line stretching approximately 1,000 kilometres.

This idea, reportedly raised during discussions between French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in mid-December, could potentially involve NATO member countries, including nuclear-armed nations such as France and the United Kingdom.

“It is obviously premature to discuss peacekeeping troops,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on December 16.

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