Fact Check: "President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia proposed exchanging Russian prisoners of war for Ukrainian children abducted from Ukraine during a joint press conference in Vienna on October 2023."
What We Know
On October 16, 2023, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did indeed address the issue of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia during a press conference in Vienna. However, he clarified that Russia had proposed an exchange of Russian prisoners of war for these abducted children. Zelenskyy described this proposal as "madness," emphasizing that Ukraine would not engage in such an exchange and would instead seek to return its children through diplomatic means (source-5).
Analysis
The claim that Zelenskyy stated Russia proposed exchanging Russian prisoners of war for Ukrainian children is accurate in terms of the proposal made by Russia. However, the context is crucial. Zelenskyy condemned the proposal, indicating that Ukraine would not consider it a viable option. This condemnation is a significant aspect of the statement, as it reflects Ukraine's stance against negotiating the return of children in exchange for prisoners of war, which they view as unacceptable (source-6).
The sources reporting on this event, including major news outlets and official statements, are generally reliable. For instance, the Associated Press and UNN are reputable news organizations that provide coverage of international affairs. However, the interpretation of Zelenskyy's statement can vary based on the framing of the headlines and articles. Some reports may emphasize the proposal itself without adequately conveying Zelenskyy's rejection of it, which could lead to misunderstandings about his position (source-2).
Conclusion
The claim that President Zelenskyy stated Russia proposed exchanging Russian prisoners of war for Ukrainian children is False in the sense that it lacks the critical context of his rejection of the proposal. While the proposal was indeed made, Zelenskyy's response was one of condemnation, asserting that Ukraine would not engage in such exchanges. Therefore, the claim misrepresents the nature of Zelenskyy's statement and his position on the matter.
Sources
- We Appreciate Austria's Willingness to Provide Dignified ... (https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/cinuyemo-gotovnist-avstriyi-zabezpechiti-dostojne-poserednic-98469)
- Russia and Ukraine swap hundreds of prisoners in one of the war's ... (https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-prisoner-swap-53b8061fbbc68a397292c798366c5947)
- Ukraine's Zelenskyy wins non-military backing from Austria ... (https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-bellen-stocker-austria-ukraine-russia-nehammer-b34378ff9e1dee50d84c952955e609a7)
- List of international presidential trips made by Volodymyr ... (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_presidential_trips_made_by_Volodymyr_Zelenskyy)
- Ukraine will not exchange Russian prisoners of war for kidnapped ... (https://unn.ua/en/news/ukraine-will-not-exchange-russian-prisoners-of-war-for-kidnapped-ukrainian-children-zelensky)
- Zelenskyy: Russia proposed exchanging POWs for ... (https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/06/16/7517391/)
- Ukrainians hope for news of loved ones among POW swap with Russia (https://www.nbcnews.com/world/ukraine/ukrainians-prisoners-war-russia-zelenskyy-chernihiv-hospital-soldiers-rcna211977)
- Zelenskyy: Russia proposed exchanging POWs for ... (https://www.yahoo.com/news/zelenskyy-russia-proposed-exchanging-pows-140238437.html)
