Russia and Ukraine announced a substantial prisoner exchange on Wednesday, following two days of United States‑facilitated negotiations, though no significant progress was made toward ending the war that began with Russia’s full‑scale invasion almost five years ago.
Expectations were modest for any notable development in the first delegation meeting in nine months. While Russia and Ukraine have occasionally exchanged prisoners in the past, the two sides remain widely divergent on the terms required for a peace settlement.
U.S. officials reiterated their commitment to reinvigorating Washington’s peace initiative, which has so far yielded limited results.
