Announced the beginning of official negotiations between the United States and Russia in Ukraine

Exchange of prisoners between USA And Russia became a gesture of rapprochement before negotiations on the end of the war in Ukraine. He was followed by a telephone conversation Trump And Putin.

Exchange of prisoners and telephone conversations

This is an unusual exchange, since usually countries exchange prisoners at the same time in small groups. This time, one person per day takes place.

President Trump announced that perhaps on Wednesday February 12in Russia, another American citizen will be released. His name at the time of publication is unknown. According to data The New York Timesa citizen of the Russian Federation must be released in the USA Alexander Vinnikdetained in 2017 on suspicion of cybercrime and laundering of four billion dollars. He was threatened 20 years of imprisonment.

The exchange was also added by the fact that he was accompanied by a direct telephone conversation of Trump and Putin. As reported CNNduring the conversation, the presidents agreed on the immediate start of negotiations in Ukraine. Trump wrote on social networks Truth Social: “We will start with the President to call Zelenskyto inform him about this conversation, ”that and happened in a few hours.

The presidents’s conversation took place the day after February 11 in the United States He returned From Russia American history teacher Mark Vogelwho was detained in the Russian Federation in 2021 and sentenced to 14 years on charges of drug smuggling.

Possible further steps

Perhaps this is not the last exchange between Russia and the USA. Among those whom Washington would like to return, Western news agencies mention Ksenia Hawansentenced to 12 years in prison on charges of Gosizmen.

Speaking in the White House, Trump noted that “Russia was very good” with the United States and expressed hope for “The beginning of the relationship in which we can end this war”. Trump adviser to national security Mike Waltz He called the exchange “a sign that we are moving in the right direction.”

The exchange of prisoners was the next step towards the rapprochement of the United States and Russia, whose relations after the start of the war fell to the lowest level over the decade. This rapprochement began even before Trump entered the post with mutual statements about readiness for negotiations in Ukraine.

Preparation for meetings

On the coming days Trump announced the meeting With President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky. It is also expected that Zelensky will meet with the vice-president of the United States James David Wans on The Munich Security Conference, which opens on February 14.

Earlier, US representatives stated that the end of the war would require concessions from both sides. Moscow has not yet made statements about readiness for compromises, while Kyiv signaled about readiness for negotiations, but without specifics.

After the conversation, Trump announced The beginning of official negotiations between the United States and Russia in Ukraine. From the United States, negotiators will be the Secretary of State Rubio, the head of the CIA Ratcliffe, the National Security Advisor to the Waltz and the special representative of the Middle East of the Whitkoff.

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