Kiev: Ukrainian authorities and separatists have exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war, a spokesman for President Petro Poroshenko said, part of a 12-point plan aimed at ending the pro-Russian uprising in the east of the country.

The agreement to swap 150 Ukrainian servicemen for 222 rebels followed peace talks between envoys of Ukraine, Russia, the separatists and European security watchdog Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on Wednesday.

Ukrainians prepare for an exchange of prisoners in front of a prison in Donetsk. Credit:AP

The prisoner exchange came during a period of diplomatic stagnation, as peace talks between Russia and the OSCE broke down in Minsk, Belarus. The suspension of the peace talks, the first to be held since September, was announced by Belarusian officials, who have hosted negotiations to end the nine-month conflict, which has taken more than 4700 lives.

Dmitry Mironchik, a spokesman for the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, confirmed that talks were not held Friday but did not give a reason. He said Minsk would remain open to hosting talks "even if they take place on New Year's Eve".