"Russian state news agency RIA reports that Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 157 prisoners of war each. US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who was leading the American mediation team alongside Jared Kushner, confirmed the prisoner deal in a post on X on Thursday, saying that while significant work remains, steps like this demonstrate that sustained diplomatic engagement is delivering tangible results and advancing efforts to end the war in Ukraine."
"Before the session's conclusion, Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev told state media that things are moving forward in a good, positive direction. He also said that active work was underway to restore Russia's relations with the US, including within the framework of a US-Russia working group on the economy. However, he criticised what he described as attempts by European nations to disrupt the progress and meddle in the process."
"The first round of trilateral negotiations took place in late January but appeared to make little progress on the vital question of territory. Moscow is demanding Kyiv cede a fifth of the Donetsk region that it still controls, which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's government is refusing to do. Prisoner exchange deal Russian state news agency RIA later reported that Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 157 prisoners of war each, citing the Defense Ministry. Three civilians from the Kursk region were also returned to Russia."
Russia and Ukraine concluded a second day of US-brokered negotiations in the United Arab Emirates and agreed to exchange 314 prisoners of war. The swap comprised 157 prisoners each, with three civilians from the Kursk region returned to Russia. US special envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed the deal and described it as evidence that sustained diplomatic engagement yields tangible results while noting significant work remains. Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev said talks were moving in a positive direction and that efforts were underway to restore US-Russia relations, including an economic working group, while criticising alleged European attempts to disrupt the process. Territory disputes remain unresolved.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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