Key Takeaways
- Ukraine and Russia will hold talks in the UAE starting Friday, focusing on prisoner swaps and the return of Ukrainian children.
- The announcement came during Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington, where President Biden unveiled a new $200 million military aid package.
- Zelenskyy expressed hope after “frank” talks with US Republican senators who have blocked a larger $61 billion aid bill.
Ukraine and Russia are scheduled to begin negotiations in the United Arab Emirates this Friday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced. The talks will centre on a prisoner exchange and the repatriation of Ukrainian children taken to Russia.
Talks Focus on Prisoners and Children
Speaking at a joint press conference with US President Joe Biden in Washington, Zelenskyy confirmed the upcoming diplomatic effort. “We have an important result — our teams will continue to work on the return of people. Tomorrow, in the United Arab Emirates, a negotiation process will take place regarding the exchange of prisoners and the return of our children,” he stated. Russia has not yet commented on the planned talks.
Washington Visit Amidst Aid Push
Zelenskyy’s US visit coincided with President Biden announcing a new $200 million military aid package for Kyiv. Biden also urged Congress to break the political deadlock and approve a much larger $61 billion assistance request, which has been blocked by Republican lawmakers.
Zelenskyy met with Republican senators earlier, describing the conversation as “frank, friendly, and substantive.” He expressed cautious optimism, saying, “I received signals that they were positive. But we know that there are different political views. So we will see.” He firmly clarified that Ukraine is not seeking American troops on the ground. “We don’t ask for American soldiers to fight instead of Ukrainians. We are fighting for our freedom,” he asserted.
Biden’s Warning on Putin’s Strategy
Standing beside the Ukrainian leader, President Biden issued a stark warning about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intentions. “Putin is banking on the United States failing to deliver for Ukraine. We must, we must, we must prove him wrong,” Biden emphasised, underlining the critical need for continued US support.
