Russia, Ukraine swap prisoners ahead of New Year

Russia, Ukraine, UAE-mediated prisoner swap
Russia "exchange 150 people each"...Ukraine "189 Returned"
Periodic prisoner exchange between the two countries...The previous outlook is uncertain
Trump "will end the war"...Ruhr Rejects Trump's Proposal

[Anchor]
Ahead of the New Year, Russia and Ukraine agreed to exchange prisoners, and more than 300 prisoners from both countries returned to their families.

But the war, which shows no sign of ending, is about to enter its third year.

I'm reporter Kim Do-won.

[Reporter]
A bus carrying a captured Ukrainian soldier enters.

People who have returned to their homeland, enjoy the joy of hugging the flag.

[Ukraine official: Welcome back to your home Ukraine with pleasure. Long live Ukraine! [Hooray to the heroes!]

Russian prisoners are also released and put on a bus heading home.

[Revised Russian prisoner] I'm going home soon. How are the kids doing? What about your mother?]

In the run-up to the New Year, Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners with each other through the mediation of the United Arab Emirates.

Russia said the two countries had released 150 people, but Ukraine said it had returned 189 people, including two civilians.

It's not clear why the numbers are different.

The two countries, which have been at war for nearly three years, are exchanging prisoners periodically, but there is no prospect of an end to the war.

U.S. President-elect Trump has vowed to end the war in a day if he takes office, but Russia has rejected Trump's recent proposal for a 20-year moratorium on Ukraine's membership in NATO and the deployment of European peacekeepers.

U.S. President Biden announced an additional military aid worth 3.6 trillion won to Ukraine with just over 20 days left from his retirement, and Ukraine expressed its resignation and strengthened its will to fight the war.

I'm Kim Do Won of YTN.


Video editing: Lee Jung-wook
Screen provided: Ukrainian Bureau of POW Treatment Coordination