MFA: Florida talks are substantive, work on prisoner exchanges continues constantly

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhy said work on the humanitarian track – particularly prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia – is ongoing on a constant basis.

"In general, the talks between the Ukrainian and U.S. delegations were substantive, meaning the work was substantive. But there is no movement solely because of the Russian side’s position. Russia does not want diplomacy, does not want to participate in or advance this process, blocks everything, and is betting on war. And when pressure on it is weakened, it certainly loses motivation and interest in moving toward peace," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday.

At the same time, according to the spokesperson, the work continues, and Ukraine is "constructively engaged in this process." He also reaffirmed Ukraine’s interest in a trilateral meeting and in a meeting at the highest level.

"In addition to the direct meetings and consultations between the Ukraine-Russia-U.S. teams, daily work on the humanitarian track is ongoing. This concerns prisoner exchanges and the return of people. This work continues constantly, even beyond the framework of direct meetings. Because for Ukraine this is a priority," the Foreign Ministry said.

Tykhy added that "this track is alive and continuing."

As reported, following another round of talks in Florida over the weekend, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov said noticeable progress had been made in advancing positions on reliable security guarantees and the humanitarian track, in particular the exchange and return of Ukrainian citizens.

For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also stressed in his evening address on Sunday that, following two days of meetings between the Ukrainian delegation and U.S. representatives, there were signals regarding the possible continuation of exchanges and discussions on security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe.