Zelensky said he was ready to exchange prisoners with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky participates in an online Q&A session at the World Economic Forum in Davos – Photo: REUTERS

“The exchange of prisoners is a humanitarian issue today and a political decision that depends on the support of the countries,” Zelensky said during a question and answer session at the World Economic Forum in Davos last night. May 23 (local time).

To promote the exchange of prisoners of war, Ukraine’s president said they need to “create political pressure at any level” on Russia, through closing businesses or embargoing oil.. .

“We don’t need Russian soldiers, we just need our own. We are ready for an exchange tomorrow,” Zelensky said.

Zelensky said Ukraine had lobbied the United Nations, Switzerland, Israel and “many other countries” to support their efforts, but acknowledged the process was complicated.

On May 19, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that 771 Ukrainian soldiers at the Azovstal Steel Plant had surrendered, bringing the total number of surrenders since May 16 to 1,730 soldiers.

Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that more than 900 Ukrainian soldiers at the surrendered Azovstal Factory were taken to a detention center before being sent to trial.

Observers say that a prisoner exchange agreement is still quite far away.

The speaker of Russia’s State Duma (Russia’s lower house of parliament) declined to talk about such an agreement, saying Russia is doing everything possible to provide medical care and humanitarian treatment to Ukrainian prisoners of war. .