Putin and Trump negotiate major Russia-US prisoner swap

Ushakov revealed that during the over two-hour discussion between Putin and Trump, the topic of Ukraine was explored "in great detail," with "interesting nuances" noted.

"Trump reportedly stated he sees Russia as a key trade and economic partner for the United States, contingent upon reaching an agreement on Ukraine," according to Ushakov.

Trump told Putin that he was welcome to call him at any time, added the advisor of the Russian leader.

The last exchange took place in April 2025, when Ksenia Karelina, who holds dual citizenship with the United States and Russia, was released by Russia. She was previously sentenced to 12 years in prison for donating to a Ukrainian charity in the USA. In return, the USA released Artur Petrov, a German and Russian citizen who was arrested in Cyprus in 2023 for attempting to export sensitive microelectronics.

Meanwhile, the largest and most historic exchange occurred in August 2024. Seven countries were involved in the operation, which included the exchange of 26 prisoners.

The exchange involving Russia and the West accounted for 26 prisoners serving sentences across seven countries and was the largest such operation since the Cold War. Poland also participated, but Andrzej Poczobut was not among those released.

"It is a more complex issue and involves direct negotiations between Lukashenko and our country," said Marcin Faliński, a former officer of the Intelligence Agency, during an interview with WP.

On Monday, Vladimir Putin had a two-hour conversation with Donald Trump. Describing the discussion as honest and substantive, Putin emphasized that the memorandum between Russia and Ukraine could include ceasefire terms and principles for resolving the conflict.

Donald Trump, for his part, stated that "Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations."