Russia and Ukraine on Monday swapped a first group of captured soldiers -- part of an agreement reached during peace talks that appeared to be in doubt over the weekend. Russia's defence ministry also confirmed the swap was part of "agreements reached on 2 June in Istanbul".

The bodies of 1,212 Ukrainian soldiers have been returned from Russia, Kyiv says, as part of a prisoner exchange agreement between the warring countries. In return Russia received 27 bodies, Moscow's chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said.

Russia and Ukraine conducted their fourth prisoner swap in a week, the Russian defense ministry said Saturday, and Russia handed over the bodies of