The sign from the US-Russia spoke that Moscow was in the driver’s seat | World News

The latest US-Russian prisoner exchange is a further sign of the disbursement relationship between Moscow and Washington, but I think it is also an indication of how things are slow to move.

A two -month back to February 11 and you might remember there are other prisoners’ exchanges.

Suddenly, 63-year-old American school teacher Marc Fogel, who had been imprisoned Russia on charges of drug smuggling, is suddenly released And on the way back to the US.

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It is part of the agreement that has been secured after a secret journey to Moscow by the US messenger Steve Witkoff, in what marks the first sign of the movement towards a peace agreement in Ukraine.

Donald Trump saying that “can be a big and important part” to end the conflict and that is showing good faith from Russia.

It also marks the first sign of recovery between the White House and Kremlin.

Since then, there have been various face -to -face meetings between the two parties, at various levels.

There are at least two telephone calls between Trump and Vladimir Putin. We have talked about sanctions, business agreements and commencement of direct flights.

But apart from the conversation, it’s just. Talk. It seems that there are still concrete, for Trump’s frustration.

The latest round of US-Russian talks, in Istanbul today, is an example of a lack of progress.

Washington said the meeting would only focus on “embassy operations”.

That means problems such as paying salaries – which have become more difficult under sanctions – restrictions on diplomats and external contractor work including cleansers and gardeners (which are currently prohibited by Moscow for the US mission here).

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So for now, this is still very basic. As said by the US State Department yesterday, Ukraine was “not on the agenda”.

What’s surprising is that the peace agreement appears conditional in the reset of a relationship, not vice versa. For me, it is a sign that Russia is in the driver’s seat, and not the US.

Today’s exchange of prisoners is part of all this. As February exchange, I think this is a good intention show, and Moscow’s efforts to make Americans sweet, after Putin was accused of dragging his feet in negotiations.

This certainly shows Trump that the relationship moves in the right direction. And at the personal level, for Ksenia Karelina – Russian -American ballet dancers are released as part of the agreement – and their families, it was a very significant moment.

But at the geopolitical level, this is still only the crumbs offered by Russia, not all cakes.