Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has praised the Russia–Ukraine prisoner exchange agreement, based on the formula “1,000 for 1,000,” calling it a positive sign that may herald the beginning of genuine dialogue between the warring sides.
Speaking after the sixth European Political Community summit in Tirana, Vučić said, “This is good news, meaning dialogue has begun. Once dialogue starts, I believe other results will follow.”
The exchange involved the return of 1,000 Russian soldiers to Russia and 1,000 Ukrainians to Ukraine, making it one of the largest swaps of its kind. Vučić sees this as a potential breakthrough in peace negotiations.
Regarding ongoing military operations, Vučić tempered expectations, stating he does not foresee a swift end to the conflict, emphasizing that this is a personal assessment rather than an official declaration.
The agreement followed the first direct talks between Russia and Ukraine since 2022, held in Istanbul on May 16. Russian lead negotiator Vladimir Medinsky welcomed the progress and confirmed Russia’s readiness to continue talks, including direct leadership-level negotiations requested by Ukraine.
