Russia, Ukraine agree on prisoner exchange as talks end without major breakthrough
Russia and Ukraine agreed to a large exchange of prisoners of war, both sides said Wednesday as two days of US mediated talks concluded, but they announced no major breakthrough on ending the conflict that began after Moscow’s full-scale invasion nearly five years ago. Hopes had been low for any significant development in the first meeting in nine months between the delegations. Russia and…
Two days of U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi between Russia and Ukraine concluded on Wednesday. While negotiators from both sides reported some progress, including an agreement to conduct a "large-scale" exchange of prisoners of war, no major breakthrough regarding an end to the conflict was announced. US mediators noted that differences remain on several issues, including territory, and cited a lack of trust between the warring parties.
According to TASS, Russia's chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky stated there is no possibility of exchanging territory with Ukraine as part of a peace deal. Medinsky noted that Russia's buffer zone along its border with Ukraine is already substantial and would continue to expand, according to Interfax via Reuters. Medinsky also suggested that creating a fair security system for Europe could help ensure peace for decades or centuries.
Brief written by urgent.news from Al-Monitor, Middle East Eye, The Hill, South China Morning Post, Euromaidan Press — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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