PARIS - The historic swap of 24 prisoners on Aug 1 between Russia and Western nations including the US and Germany raises questions on possible implications for the war in Ukraine.
Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and Alsu Kurmasheva, who were detained in Russia, posing with others aboard an aircraft after they were released, on Aug 1.
“This prisoner exchange shows the United States and Russia have carried on discussions and have long been talking,” said the researcher at the French Institute for Strategic and International Affairs .President Vladimir Putin said in December he wanted Moscow and Washington to reach a “solution” to secure the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Gershkovich, but that talks were not straightforward.
The Kremlin at first believed it only needed to negotiate with the US, assuming Washington could influence the Europeans, it reported. But as Germany had arrested Krasikov, it became necessary to involve Berlin in the talks.A deal seemed in the works to include Navalny, but Russia delayed confirming Navalny’s inclusion until the last moment, it said.Ms Liana Fix, of the Council on Foreign Relations, said the exchange showed “the Kremlin’s assassins are important to Putin”.
But, she added, “Russia may want to demonstrate goodwill to sweeten the entry into talks, which it will try to conduct on its own terms”.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Gymnastics-Olympic champion Nagornyy hits out at Russia's exclusion from Paris GamesPARIS : Olympic champion Nikita Nagornyy found it unacceptable that Russian gymnasts were barred from competing at the Paris Games due to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, saying his country's exclusion would be remembered as one of the worst moments of Olympic history.
Read more »
Ukraine says it repelled one of Russia's largest drone attacks of warKYIV: Ukraine's air force said it repelled one of Russia's largest long-range drone attacks of the war overnight, shooting down all 89 drones launched at Kyiv, the surrounding region and other areas in the early hours of Wednesday (Jul 31).
Read more »
Fifth Indian killed fighting in Ukraine for RussiaNEW DELHI: An Indian soldier died fighting with Russian forces in Ukraine, one of his relatives said on Monday (Jul 29), the fifth confirmed death so far of an Indian citizen in the conflict.
Read more »
Ukraine asks Hong Kong not to let Russia circumvent sanctionsHONG KONG: Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday (Jul 25) visited Hong Kong and called on its leader John Lee to prevent Russia from using Hong Kong as a way to circumvent Western sanctions imposed on Moscow for its full-scale war in Ukraine.
Read more »
Ukraine tells China that Russia not ready for 'good faith' talksBEIJING: Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told his Chinese counterpart that his government did not believe Russia was ready for "good faith" negotiations to end the war, his ministry said on Wednesday (Jul 24).
Read more »
As Paris Olympics begin this week, Ukraine mourns more than 300 athletes killed in warHundreds of training facilities have also been destroyed or damaged since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Read more »