**Ukraine-Russia Talks Stall Over Demands for Ceasefire**
The latest round of talks between Ukraine and Russia has hit a snag, with Ukrainian officials saying that Russia presented “unacceptable demands” as a condition for a ceasefire. A Ukrainian diplomatic source told Reuters that these terms exceed previously discussed frameworks.
According to the source, Russia is demanding that Ukraine withdraw its troops from its own territory before a ceasefire can be agreed upon. This demand has been met with skepticism by Ukrainian officials, who feel it goes against the spirit of negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.
**Prisoner Swap Agreement Reached**
Despite the stalemate on ceasefire terms, both sides have agreed to a major prisoner swap. Ukraine’s Defense Minister, Rustem Umerov, announced that an agreement had been reached for a “1,000 for 1,000” exchange, which would be one of the largest since the war began.
Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky confirmed the agreement and expressed satisfaction with the outcome. However, the prisoner swap has not seemed to ease tensions between the two sides.
**Ceasefire Proposal Delayed**
A senior Ukrainian official told AFP that further negotiations on Friday are “possible” but not yet scheduled. This suggests that a resolution on ceasefire terms is still far off, despite efforts by both sides to continue talking.
The talks have paused for now, with a possible resumption later today. Both Ukraine and Russia seem determined to keep the dialogue going, but it remains to be seen if they can find common ground on key issues like ceasefire and troop withdrawal.
**Diplomatic Friction Escalates**
The stalled negotiations come amid diplomatic friction between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy criticized Putin for declining a direct meeting, instead sending a lower-level delegation that lacks the authority to make meaningful decisions.
This has raised questions about Moscow’s commitment to serious negotiations and whether they are genuinely interested in finding a peaceful solution to the conflict.
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