US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Putin in Moscow Thursday after two days of US-mediated talks between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi. The negotiators agreed in principle to a major prisoner exchange, a real humanitarian development after nine months without direct talks. But there was no breakthrough on ending the war. Putin still demands that Ukraine surrender all of Donbas, including territory Russian forces have not captured. Kyiv rejects that demand. Moscow also opposes a temporary ceasefire and wants a broader security arrangement that would keep European governments out of the negotiations.
The American envoys are due to meet Zelensky in Dublin. Russia continues striking Ukrainian infrastructure, while Ukraine keeps hitting Russian oil facilities. The prisoner exchange shows negotiations can produce something concrete. It doesn’t mean Putin has softened his territorial demands. There is a difference between getting prisoners home and getting a peace agreement. The latter remains nowhere near settled.
Meanwhile, France says the EU will approve another sanctions package on Monday, targeting 150 additional entities and 50 banks. Russia has also barred several French journalists and lawmakers from entering the country.
https://apnews.com/article/683810203340077f33611fd1d1757b23
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-approve-more-sanctions-russia-monday-france-says-2026-11-12/
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