Just days after former U.S. President Donald Trump labeled Russian President Vladimir Putin as “crazy,” both leaders have reportedly agreed to a significant prisoner exchange deal.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, May 27, by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a diplomatic summit in Turkey. Lavrov, while addressing ongoing negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, praised Trump as “a man who wants results,” and accused European countries of attempting to undermine peace efforts.
While official details of the exchange remain under wraps, the U.S. State Department has not yet confirmed which individuals will be included in the deal. However, sources told the Kyiv Post that Trump is weighing the possibility of lifting certain restrictions on how Ukraine can deploy U.S.-supplied weapons against Russian targets.
This development comes shortly after Trump revealed a separate, large-scale prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine—reportedly involving up to 1,000 detainees from each side. In a post on Truth Social, he hinted that the exchange “could lead to something big,” though he offered no further specifics.
If finalized, this new agreement between the U.S. and Russia would mark the first such bilateral swap since February, when American teacher Marc Fogel was freed after spending over three years in Russian custody.
Among the Americans currently detained in Russia and possibly included in the deal are Stephen Hubbard, a 72-year-old sentenced to nearly seven years for allegedly fighting on behalf of Ukraine, and U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Gordon Black, 35, who was arrested in May 2024 on what U.S. officials have described as “questionable theft charges.”
The agreement follows a weekend of intense diplomatic activity. On Saturday, Trump told reporters he was “absolutely” considering new sanctions on Russia. The following day, he sharply criticized Putin for intensifying the conflict in Ukraine, warning that continued aggression could result in “the downfall of Russia.”
“I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “But something has happened to him.”
The Kremlin responded to Trump’s remarks by attributing them to “emotional overload” from the pressure of attempting to broker peace. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also expressed appreciation for Trump’s involvement in facilitating talks.
“We are really grateful to the Americans and to President Trump personally for their assistance in organizing and launching this negotiation process,” Peskov stated.
Lavrov’s comments on Tuesday could signal a shift in U.S.–Russia dynamics. Though diplomatic tensions remain high, both sides engaging in prisoner swaps may point to an openness for back-channel diplomacy.
Despite his pointed criticism of Putin, Trump also directed frustration toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, blaming him for adding fuel to the ongoing conflict.
“Everything out of his mouth causes problems. I don’t like it, and it better stop,” Trump said. He further claimed the war “would never have started if I were president,” calling it “Zelenskyy’s, Putin’s, and Biden’s war—not Trump’s.” He added that his efforts are focused on resolving what he described as a crisis born from “gross incompetence and hatred.”
