UN secretary-general thanks Türkiye for its role in Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap

By Burak Dag

ANKARA (AA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday thanked Türkiye for its role in the exchange of prisoners of war between Ukraine and Russia.

"I thank the governments of Türkiye and Saudi Arabia for their role in securing this agreement," Guterres said at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

"Yesterday’s news that more than 250 prisoners of war were exchanged between Ukraine and Russian Federation was a welcome development," he added.

"I commend the efforts of those parties. I hope that we will build on these with further exchanging aiming at an all-for-all formula," he said.

The prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine took place Wednesday after Türkiye's mediation and diplomatic efforts with the leaders of the two countries.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked President Erdogan "for his leading role in liberating our people."