Russia and Ukraine Agree to Swap Prisoners in Hopes of Building Trust Before Breaking It Again Tomorrow

KYIV—In a display of almost-cooperation, Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a prisoner swap, marking the first time in months the two nations have accomplished anything together besides blaming each other for catastrophic explosions.

The deal, described by both sides as “a small but meaningful step,” involved exchanging soldiers, political prisoners, and one elderly man who swore he was just trying to visit his grandkids across the border. The swap was orchestrated with the stated goal of “building trust,” though sources confirm that both sides plan to immediately shatter that trust in the next round of ceasefire talks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the swap as a “symbol of progress,” though admitted, “Realistically, we’ll be back to shelling each other’s cities by Wednesday.” Meanwhile, Russian officials expressed similar optimism, noting that “at least our prisoners will have a few hours of fresh air before we go back to ruining everything.”

International observers have cautiously praised the swap, calling it “a heartwarming reminder that even bitter enemies can briefly pretend to care about human life.”