Part 7/12:
The exchange involved prisoners transferred across the Ukraine-Belarus border and is seen as a preliminary indicator of potential easing in hostilities. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustam Umerov called it the first stage of a possible ceasefire, envisioning further negotiations following this confidence-building measure.
However, substantive peace negotiations remain elusive. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov signaled that once the swap is finalized, the Kremlin would present Ukraine with an outline for a long-term settlement—an indication that Russia still seeks to negotiate terms that preserve its strategic interests, including the annexed territories of Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine.