KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian aerial attacks on civilian areas of Ukraine killed two people and injured at least three others, officials said Thursday, as the warring countries work on a prisoner exchange for Easter.
Periodic prisoner exchanges have been one of the few positive outcomes of otherwise fruitless monthslong U.S.-brokered negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv. The talks have delivered no progress on key issues preventing an end to Russia’s invasion of its neighbor, now in its fifth year.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered a ceasefire for the Easter period, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier this week that Moscow wants a lasting peace settlement, not a temporary truce.
President Vladimir Putin unilaterally declared a 30-hour ceasefire last Easter, but each side accused the other of breaking it.
Russia’s human rights ombudswoman Tatyana Moskalkova said Thursday that both sides are working on exchanges of prisoners. “Ahead of Easter, a lot of work is being done today to prepare prisoner exchanges,” Moskalkova told reporters.