By Vladimir Soldatkin and Guy Faulconbridge ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday dismissed claims the war in Ukraine is devastating the Russian economy, citing continued growth,

Russia's Center for Macroeconomic Analysis and Short-Term Forecasting said in a statement this week: "It seems that an 'an economy of stagnation' has formed." What Happens Next. T

Russia expects to agree with Ukraine next week on a date for a third round of peace talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.

Russia and Ukraine exchanged captured soldiers on Friday, authorities said, marking the latest prisoner swap following peace talks in Istanbul earlier this month. "A group of Russian servicemen was returned from the territory controlled by the Kyiv regime.

Ukraine conducted another prisoner exchange on Friday returning seriously wounded and gravely ill servicemen from Russian captivity as part of a prisoner exchange under agreements brokered in Istanbul.