Major Prisoner Swap Expected by Easter, Says Ukrainian Official: Inside the Talks.

Preparations Underway for Prisoner Exchange

According to Novyny.live: Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, has announced that new prisoner exchanges could take place by Easter. Speaking on the morning show "Ranok.LIVE" on March 27, he stated that negotiations are happening daily and that a large-scale swap of prisoners of war by Easter is a realistic possibility. This development comes amid ongoing efforts to address humanitarian concerns in the conflict.

The broadcast featured several guests, including:

• military analyst Vasyl Pekhnyo
• Doctor of Economics, Professor Dmytro Shushpanov
• Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksiy Honcharenko
• pulmonologist Rostyslav Liubevych
• head of the tuberculosis control and management department Yana Terleeva
• chairman of the Committee of Economists of Ukraine Andriy Novak
• president of the Heat Power Cluster of Ukraine Anatoliy Korzh
• founder of the 'Unbreakable Kharkiv' Charitable Foundation Maria Zaitseva

Military Landscape and Economic Fallout

Budanov also commented on the broader military situation, asserting that

“World War III is effectively already underway, and it started with the events in Ukraine.”

In a related development, at least 40% of Russia’s oil export capacity has been halted. This highlights the severe economic repercussions for Russia amid the ongoing war and international pressure.

The planned Easter prisoner exchange represents a significant humanitarian step, even as economic sanctions continue to reshape the regional landscape. Such a swap could serve as a symbolic gesture to ease tensions and improve conditions for those affected. At the same time, the prolonged conflict and its economic toll on Russia point to an escalating crisis that demands fresh international strategies and actions for resolution. As these events unfold, monitoring their impact on the conflict’s trajectory and humanitarian situation remains critical.