Russia Ukraine Effect 2nd POWs Exchange
By Yadnom Awu/ Asaba
Russia and Ukraine have exchanged Prisoners of War(POWs) for the second time in as many months.
The actual number of the POWs exchanged remained unknown, at press time, but they included those with severe wounds, those aged below 25 years and the dead.
The exchange followed the June 2 talks in Istanbul, Turkiye, at which officials of both countries reached the agreement for the exchange after an hour- long talk session.
The June 2 talks were the second between both countries at the same venue on the same subject.
Prior to the first round of talks, Russia handed over the bodies of 909 fallen Ukrainian troops.
Efforts to ignite diplomatic efforts to resolve the three- year military conflict between both countries are being led by America and Turkiye, with the latter providing venue and related facilities.
But they had yet to make encouraging progress, with the European Union, EU, blaming Russia for erecting stiff pre- negotiation conditions.
The West, typified by America and the EU, have reportedly provided in excess of $500billion worth of military and humanitarian support for Ukraine.
Russia, on its part, has sourced support, in terms of human and technical assets, from Iran and North Korea.
Since the war began with the Russian military invasion of its neighbour, it has either fully or partially seized four regions of its territory, amounting to 20 per cent of its total landmass
