In a significant development, Russia and Ukraine have agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war (PoWs) each — the largest swap between the two nations since the conflict began. However, despite this breakthrough, there is still no agreement on a ceasefire.
This announcement came during the first direct peace talks between the two
countries since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
No Ceasefire Yet
Ukrainian officials said Russia introduced new "unacceptable
demands" during the talks, which prevented any immediate ceasefire deal.
Ukraine continues to call for an urgent ceasefire and meaningful diplomatic
efforts, echoing the stance of the U.S., European Union, and other countries.
Talks of Future Leadership Meeting
Both sides agreed to exchange detailed proposals for a future ceasefire and
also discussed the possibility of a meeting between President Vladimir Putin of
Russia and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine.
Russia acknowledged Ukraine’s request for this meeting but noted that
President Putin did not attend the recent peace talks in Turkey, instead
sending a lower-level delegation. This decision led President Zelensky to
criticize Russia’s commitment to the peace process, calling Putin “afraid” and
accusing the Kremlin of not being serious about ending the war.
Despite the challenges, both parties expressed willingness to continue
negotiations. Russia's top negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, stated, “Overall, we
are satisfied with the results and ready to continue contacts.”
The international community continues to watch closely, hoping for a
peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
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