Previously refusing to give up any area that Russia had invaded, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he was willing to exchange land in the Kursk region of Russia, which Ukraine had taken in an unexpected attack last year.
President Donald Trump characterized Tuesday’s action as a goodwill gesture to end the war, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he was willing to exchange territory in talks with Russia, which released an American prisoner.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, Mr. Zelenskyy said he was prepared for hard discussions with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who has been a strong opponent of U.S. military assistance to Ukraine.
He stated, “We will swap one territory for another,” during an interview with The Guardian.
In a surprise attack last year, Ukraine took control of the Kursk region of Russia, which Mr. Zelenskyy said he was willing to exchange for land. In the past, he has refused to give up any territory that Russia has occupied.
According to a picture sent by Adam Boehler, the U.S. ambassador in charge of the captives, Fogel was seen enjoying a heavy drink on a plane ride home, and Trump was scheduled to greet him at the White House later Tuesday.
Russia, whose state-run news outlets cited the White House announcement, did not immediately respond.
The Supreme Court of Russia rejected Fogel’s appeal against his 14-year sentence in December.
The official Middle East ambassador is Witkoff, a Trump acquaintance and real estate developer who previously played a pivotal role in advancing a precarious ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Additionally, Trump stated Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, another cabinet member on a trip unrelated to his main responsibilities, will be visiting Ukraine.
Russian one day
In an interview with Fox News on Monday, February 10, Mr. Trump hinted that Ukraine “may be Russian someday,” a statement warmly received by Moscow.
“The fact that a significant part of Ukraine wants to become Russia, and has already, is a fact,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated, alluding to Moscow’s 2022 annexation of four Ukrainian regions following widely regarded as rigged international referendums.
Ukrainians responded to Trump’s comments with contempt.
Daniil, a resident of Kyiv, told AFP, “It is some kind of senile insanity.”
Regarding Trump, a Ukrainian soldier named Mykola speaking on a street in the heart of Kyiv stated: “He can think anything and say anything, but Ukraine will never be Russia.”
In the past, Mr. Trump has shown his respect for Putin and infamously supported his rejection of the US intelligence community’s conclusion that Russian meddling in the Republican Party’s 2016 election triumph occurred.
Trump, meanwhile, has also urged Russia to reach a settlement in recent weeks, stating that Mr. Putin must suffer significant losses.
Both militaries are attempting to gain a military edge before potential negotiations. The tiny settlement of Yasenove in the eastern Donetsk area of Ukraine was taken by Russian forces, the defense ministry announced Tuesday.
A 30-year-old lady and a 40-year-old man were killed by Russian bombing in the northern Sumy area of Ukraine, according to regional prosecutors.
Recent release of prisoners
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Joe Biden severed most of his ties with Russia.
However, in secret meetings in third countries, intelligence chiefs and others managed to broker exchanges that released the most well-known Americans imprisoned by Russia, including former Marine Paul Whelan, journalist Evan Gershkovich, and basketball player Britney Griner.
In August 2021, Fogel, 63, was detained and charged with possession of 21 grams of cannabis and cannabis oil at the Moscow airport while he was teaching at the Anglo-American School in Moscow.
Since 2012, Fogel had been a resident of Russia. It was said that he was instructing Russians in English at his prison colony.
