Zelenskyy says further POW swaps possible after second day of meetings in US

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said following the latest meetings between Ukrainian and US negotiating teams that there are signs that Kyiv-Moscow prisoner exchanges may continue.

Source: Zelenskyy in his evening address

Quote: "I expect that after our negotiating team returns to Ukraine, we will discuss in detail all aspects of the meetings which for now cannot be safely discussed over the phone.

There are signals that further exchanges may be possible, and this would indeed be very good news and confirmation that diplomacy is working. We hope this will happen."

Details: Zelenskyy said he received a report from the Ukrainian negotiating team today regarding the second day of their meetings in Florida with US representatives.

Quote: "Actually, it's two days of meetings: yesterday afternoon and evening, and today as well. It is clear that the attention of the American side at this time is primarily focused on the situation around Iran and in that region, but this war of Russia against Ukraine must also be brought to an end. This is understood the same way by everyone in the world, and I am very grateful to American society for its clear support for a normal, dignified peace for Ukraine."

Zelenskyy emphasised the importance of ensuring that Russia does not receive any reward for waging war against Ukraine.

"And it is important that none of us is forced to return to war in a few months or years, which means that security guarantees for Ukraine and for all of Europe must be sufficient for peace – for a reliable peace," he added.

Overall, he said, "the situation remains quite clear: Putin does not want to end the war".

But, Zelenskyy added, "the key thing is what the world wants. We must all do everything possible together – and we will continue to do everything possible – to end the war."

Background:

• Zelenskyy said earlier that the Ukrainian delegation had held a meeting with US representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on 21 March, with further talks also scheduled for 22 March.
• Rustem Umierov, head of the Ukrainian delegation and Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, stated that in Florida, the Ukrainian and US representatives had continued their discussions on next steps within the negotiations.
• Witkoff described Saturday's meeting in Florida as constructive, with the discussions focused on "narrowing and resolving remaining items".

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