Ukraine’s Zelenskiy proposes swapping pro-Russian politician for prisoners

(Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday proposed swapping senior pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk for male and female prisoners of war being held by Moscow’s forces.

In an early morning address, he said it was “important for our security forces and military forces to consider such a possibility.” Ukraine’s security services on Tuesday said they had arrested Medvedchuk, who is President Vladimir Putin’s closest and most influential ally in Ukraine.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren and Ron Popeski; Editing by Leslie Adler)