Moscow said no “Christmas ceasefire” was on the cards after nearly 10 months of devastating war in Ukraine, even as the release of dozens more prisoners including an American showed that some contacts between the two sides remain. | Reuters
Despite the lack of peace talks, hundreds of detainees have been freed in swaps in recent weeks. The releases – along with progress on talks to resume Russian exports of an ingredient in fertilizer and the extension of a grains deal – have shown the two sides maintain at least limited contact on several levels.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby did not name the freed American, citing privacy concerns.Kirby said the scale of the ongoing violence tempered hopes for an imminent end to hostilities. ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said a major swap could build confidence and that such exchanges had in the past constituted “the first step to a broader agreement”.
In one Kyiv district, where snow lay on the ground, residents said they heard the loud whirring engine sound of an Iranian Shahed drone followed by a powerful explosion at a building next to their homes. Ukraine wants to beef up its air defenses to fend off more attacks. U.S. officials told Reuters this week that an announcement on a decision on providing the Patriot missile defence system to Ukraine could come as soon as Thursday.
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