The Kremlin is interested in the quickest and most effective implementation of the prisoner exchange under the “1000 for 1000” scheme, according to Russian President’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov
In his statement, he noted that the issue of the exchange remains a priority for Moscow and is being conducted in close cooperation, but emphasized that the process is quite complex and requires significant effort and time. "We all want to carry out this exchange as quickly as possible. Naturally, work in this direction is being pursued persistently and purposefully, but it must be taken into account that we are talking about returning 1000 people from each side, which is a logistically and organizationally quite complicated process," Peskov said in a comment to Russian media. He added that currently specific specialists are working, and the work is proceeding "quite promptly," but at the same time highlighted that some more time is needed to implement this plan. It is worth recalling that a senior representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, has expressed optimism regarding the speed of the exchange. According to him, a large-scale return of 1000 prisoners from both sides could happen within the upcoming week. He informed Ukrainian journalists of this on Monday, noting that Ukrainian authorities are already actively preparing lists of potential participants in the exchange. Furthermore, Kyiv and Moscow have reached an interim agreement to conduct a simultaneous prisoner exchange of 1000 individuals from each country. Information about this was confirmed by delegations from Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul on May 16, 2025, where an understanding was reached on the need for the rapid implementation of this agreement. The implementation of the deal began immediately: on May 17, the responsible Ukrainian agencies, including the Security Service of Ukraine, began preparations for the exchange, focusing on logistics, participant lists, and all necessary procedures. The plan is complicated not only by the number of participants but also by humanitarian aspects, security risks, and nuances of the process, since it involves the return of hundreds of people in different conditions and circumstances. However, both sides aim to make this step as quick and efficient as possible, because the outcome will influence not only the process of liberation but also the potential escalation or de-escalation of the conflict. Preserving the agreements and their swift implementation remain a government priority, as for Ukraine this process is significant in terms of human lives and international image, while Russia also demonstrates a readiness for dialogue, laying the groundwork for potentially avoiding escalation of tensions ahead of complex negotiations.