Russia, Ukraine start second day of US-led talks: Kyiv lead negotiator

Russian and Ukrainian delegations sat opposite each other for their first face-to-face meeting since February, in the presence of US envoys, with the talks' hosts, the United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister. The talks, which are due to continue over two days, lasted nearly four hours on Tuesday. Humanitarian issues were discussed. Notably, the return of civilians to their homes in towns near the front line and large-scale prisoner exchanges. Speaking from Copenhagen, the Ukrainian president welcomed these developments. We discussed the possibility of an exchange of prisoners of war. I want 1,000 for 1,000, perhaps 1,500 for 1,500. A large-scale exchange is in the pipeline. Kept informed of the substance of the discussions, the US Secretary of State says he hopes the Europeans will join the process. And it's actually our goal at some point to expand this trilateral, so it's not just the US, Ukraine and Russia, but also that the Europeans be represented at that table directly. Russia, meanwhile, is seeking to sideline Europe. The Russian foreign minister accuses them of wanting to move militarily into Ukraine. We will not agree to a new truce or a new ceasefire, whatever the term, without knowing what will happen next. Europe's plan is very simple. Indeed, they make no secret of it. I don't agree with that. As soon as a ceasefire is in place, they will deploy stabilisation forces on the territory controlled by the Kyiv regime. On the agenda this Wednesday is the question of a potential truce in the Black Sea and de-escalation measures such as both sides ceasing to target energy infrastructure.