Ukraine and Russia have exchanged 215 prisoners, including several high-profile figures, in the biggest prisoner swap since the start of the war, according to both sides.
The swap was confirmed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov on Thursday.
Mr Zelensky said 108 Ukrainian women were among those released, while Mr Konashenkov said 55 Russian soldiers were freed, including Viktor Medvedchuk, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency named two other high-profile figures among those released: Saakashvili, the former president of Georgia, and Denis Kireyev, a Ukrainian banker and alleged double agent who was shot dead by the Ukrainian security service in March.
The prisoner exchange was the biggest since the start of the war and comes as fighting continues across Ukraine, with no sign of an end to the conflict.
The Elysee Palace said Macron and Scholz had spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and urged him to ‘intensify’ negotiations with Russia.
In a statement, the palace said the three leaders had ‘reaffirmed their common determination to support Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression’.
‘They condemned in the strongest possible terms Russia’s recent attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, and stressed that those responsible will be held accountable,’ the statement said.
Russia has been accused of war crimes in Ukraine, including the deliberate targeting of civilians, but Moscow denies the allegations.
The three leaders also discussed the issue of energy security, with Macron and Scholz stressing the importance of ‘strengthening European energy sovereignty’.
The statement did not provide further details on the energy discussions, but the European Union is currently facing a major energy crisis as a result of the war in Ukraine.
The EU is heavily reliant on Russian gas, and Moscow has been accused of using its energy supplies as a weapon against the bloc.
The EU is now scrambling to find alternative energy sources and reduce its dependence on Russian gas, but this is likely to be a difficult and expensive process.
The trilateral call comes as Western leaders continue to grapple with how to respond to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Western countries have imposed unprecedented sanctions on Russia, but Moscow has so far shown no signs of backing down.
The war in Ukraine has also raised fears of a wider conflict in Europe, and Western leaders are keen to avoid any escalation that could lead to a direct confrontation with Russia.
The trilateral call is a sign that Western leaders are continuing to coordinate their response to the war in Ukraine and are looking for ways to increase pressure on Russia to end the conflict and restore peace in Europe.
In other news, Russia has accused Ukraine of planning to blow up one of its own nuclear power plants and blame it on Moscow.
The Russian defence ministry claimed that Ukrainian forces were planning to blow up the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, and then blame it on Russia.
The ministry said that the Ukrainians were planning to use a ‘dirty bomb’, a conventional explosive that is laced with radioactive material, to contaminate the area around the plant.
The ministry did not provide any evidence to support its claims, but said that the attack was planned for ‘the near future’.
Ukraine has denied the allegations and accused Russia of spreading disinformation.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been under Russian control since the early days of the war, and Moscow has repeatedly accused Ukraine of shelling the plant.
The plant has been the site of several explosions in recent weeks, raising fears of a nuclear disaster.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called for a ceasefire around the plant to allow for safety inspections, but Russia has so far refused.
The situation around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remains tense, and there are fears that a nuclear disaster could occur if fighting continues..
