US Secretary of State Welcomes Prisoner Exchange in Russia-Ukraine Talks
Significant Developments in Russia-Ukraine Negotiations
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged in discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, expressing approval of a prisoner exchange agreement that emerged from recent negotiations in Istanbul regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict. During their conversation on Saturday, Rubio reiterated a crucial message from President Trump, emphasizing the urgent need to halt the ongoing violence and destruction.
According to a statement from the US State Department, Secretary Rubio acknowledged the prisoner exchange agreement reached during the May 16 talks and reaffirmed the United States' dedication to finding a sustainable resolution to the war between Russia and Ukraine. The Secretary highlighted the comprehensive peace plan proposed by the US, which he believes outlines the most effective path forward, calling for an immediate ceasefire.
In a post on social media platform X, Rubio stated, "In my phone call today with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, I reiterated @POTUS's message: the death and destruction must stop." He further noted the importance of the prisoner exchange agreement, urging that this moment should not be overlooked, as the time to conclude the conflict is now.
Trump Plans Direct Conversations with Leaders
Earlier, President Donald Trump announced his intention to conduct separate phone calls with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, aiming to address the ongoing violence. Trump stated, "I will be speaking, by telephone, to President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Monday, at 10:00 am. The subjects of the call will be stopping the 'bloodbath' that is killing, on average, more than 5,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers a week, and trade..."
Following his conversation with Putin, Trump plans to speak with Zelenskyy and various NATO members, expressing hope for a productive dialogue that could lead to a ceasefire and an end to the violent conflict, which he described as a war that should never have occurred. Reports from a Turkish Foreign Ministry source, cited by a German news agency, indicated that discussions between Ukrainian and Russian diplomats took place in Istanbul on Friday.