Russia and Ukraine began a major prisoner exchange Friday, swapping hundreds of soldiers and civilians in the first phase of an exchange that was a moment of cooperation in otherwise failed efforts to reach a ceasefire in the 3-year-old war.

The US would like Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, to no longer participate in negotiations with Ukraine, reports Bloomberg. According to its sources, American officials are currently in contact with Ukrainians to ensure negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.

Russia launched its largest drone attack on Ukraine since the start of the war, before President Donald Trump is due to discuss a proposed ceasefire with Vladimir Putin.

The White House disputes the account, saying the U.S. president believes Russia is winning in Ukraine but still wants peace.

Why the world can’t afford to blink The report recalls that during his presidential campaign, Trump made stopping the war a central rallying cry, invoking his relationships with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin — ties he claimed were established during his first