The two countries finalized the deals necessary to continue shipping Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine for the next five years ahead of a January 1 deadline. Gas flows to Europe have been disrupted twice in the last thirteen years due to disputes between Kyiv and Moscow (Bloomberg)
Russia-Backed Separatists, Ukraine Swap Prisoners
The two forces conducted an “all-for-all” prisoner swap in which seventy-six people detained by the separatists were freed in exchange for 127 of those detained by Ukrainian security forces, Ukrainian officials said (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Russia, Ukraine Agree to Prisoner Swap
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to conduct their second major prisoner swap in four months by the end of the year, a representative for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe announced (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Russia and Ukraine Agree to Cease-Fire
At talks in Paris, the two countries officially committed to a “full and comprehensive” cease-fire in eastern Ukraine and the release of all “conflict-related detainees” by the end of 2019 (BBC)
Russia, Ukraine Peace Talks Begin
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet face-to-face for the first time at talks in Paris today. The negotiations, brokered by France and Germany, aim to end the war in Ukraine’s east between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists (Financial Times)
Ukrainian Peace Talks Face Challenges
Diplomats meeting in Paris for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia expressed reservations about the prospects for success, with French, Ukrainian, and Russian officials all casting doubts ahead of next week’s talks (Reuters)
Russia Returns Ukrainian Vessels Ahead of Peace
Russia returned three Ukrainian naval ships today as part of the forthcoming peace talks in Paris between the two countries. Russia seized the vessels last November, but returned the Ukrainian sailors affiliated with the ships in September 2019 (Reuters)
Ukraine, Separatists Complete Third Troop Withdrawal
Military forces and Russian-backed separatists completed a mutual troop withdrawal from a third frontline of their conflict. Russian and German leaders also reportedly discussed plans to hold a summit with France and Ukraine, aimed at ending the conflict, before the end of the year (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Ukraine, Separatists Begin Partial Withdrawal
Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists have begun withdrawing from a battlefront in the country’s east, as part of efforts to end the five-year conflict there (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Ukrainians Protest New Peace Talks With Pro-Russian
Thousands of Ukrainians rallied in Kyiv to protest new negotiations between President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government and Russia-backed separatists in the eastern part of the country (Reuters)
Ukraine, Separatists Sign Agreement on Elections
Under a new agreement between the Kyiv government and separatist leaders, local elections will be held in separatist-controlled areas in the country’s east and troops from both sides will withdraw from the territory (Deutsche Welle)
Russia and Ukraine Swap Prisoners
Russia and Ukraine exchanged thirty-five prisoners each in a deal that signaled a de-escalation in the conflict between the two countries. The prisoners included twenty-four Ukrainian sailors who had been held since November, as well as a prominent Ukrainian filmmaker (Moscow Times)
Ukraine Releases Russian Prisoner
A Ukrainian court ordered the release of Russian journalist Kirill Vyshinsky. The release coincides with backchannel discussions between Ukraine and Russia to negotiate a prisoner swap (Reuters)
U.S. Officials Visit Ukraine
U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton visited Ukraine to meet with representatives from Ukraine’s newly elected government. Bolton said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald J. Trump may soon meet in Poland (Reuters)
Russia’s Return to G7 Considered, Pending Resolution on Ukraine
U.S. President Donald J. Trump said yesterday that Russia should be allowed to rejoin the G7, and French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly made a similar suggestion (Reuters)
However, Macron said that progress must first be made in resolving the Ukraine crisis before Russia’s return (Reuters)
Putin: Normandy Format Talks Only Option for Ukraine
During a meeting today with French President Emmanuel Macron, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the only option for a Ukraine peace process would be a heads of state summit. No date has been set for Normandy format talks (Reuters)
Ukraine Offers Citizenship to Russian Political Dissidents
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky authorized a decree today to offer citizenship to Russian political refugees and foreigners who fought to support Ukraine in the country’s eastern region (Reuters)
Ukrainian Officials Protest Russian Visit to Crimea
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry protested Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Crimea to attend a pro-Russian motorcycle festival, calling his visit a violation of sovereignty (Associated Press)
Separately, Ukrainian officials said that they searched a ship in the Black Sea as part of a probe into illegal fuel deliveries to the Russian navy in Crimea (Reuters)
Ukrainian President Calls for Renewed Peace Talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone after four Ukrainian soldiers were killed in shelling by Russia-backed separatists in the Donbass border region. Zelensky said he called for the two countries to resume peace talks (Reuters)
Shelling in Donbass Kills Four Ukrainian Soldiers
Four Ukrainian soldiers were killed today by shelling in the Donbass region. This is Donbass’s highest single-day death toll since October 2018 (Reuters)
Ukraine Seizes Russian Tanker
Ukraine seized a Russian tanker yesterday over its alleged involvement in capturing Ukrainian navy vessels last November. After Moscow threatened Ukraine should Russian citizens be taken hostage, Ukraine freed the tanker’s crew. Russia continues to hold Ukrainian sailors who were detained in November (Reuters)
Ukraine and Russia Agree to Prisoner Exchange
Yesterday, Ukraine and Russia finalized an anticipated agreement to exchange prisoners over the next month (Reuters)
Russia-Ukraine Prisoner Swap in Question
Yesterday, a Ukrainian court postponed a hearing to release a detained Russian journalist, leading many to question whether an anticipated prisoner exchange would still occur (Associated Press)
Russian and Ukrainian Presidents Discuss Crimea
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelenskiy held their first conversation by telephone to discuss the fate of Crimea and the return of prisoners (Reuters)
Ukrainian President: Ready to Meet With Russia
Today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced he is ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the conflict in Crimea. The Kremlin reported it would consider the offer (Reuters)
Separately, Vladimir Putin and Pope Francis met at the Vatican to discuss Ukraine, Syria, and Venezuela (Reuters)