Russia and Ukraine Agree to a Large Prisoner Swap

What happened at the talks in Abu Dhabi?

Russia and Ukraine held two days of talks there, with help from the United States. The talks were the first between the two sides since February.

Did they reach any agreement?

They agreed on a prisoner exchange, with prisoners held by each side returning home. It has been described as the largest prisoner exchange of the war so far.

That will matter greatly to the prisoners and their families. Did the talks also bring a plan to stop the fighting?

No, Daniel. The talks did not produce an agreement on a ceasefire, or a stop in the fighting. Talks about ceasefires and other possible agreements have made little progress.

So what is the United States trying now?

U.S. officials want to discuss a long-term security arrangement between Russia and Europe. They believe this could help both Moscow and Kyiv make agreements that may end the fighting.

Why does Russia want to discuss security in Europe?

The Kremlin has asked for this discussion. President Vladimir Putin sees the war as linked to the end of the Cold War and to NATO’s expansion in Europe. Russia wants buffer zones, meaning areas between military forces.

What did the U.S. side say about the mood between Russia and Ukraine?

Jared Kushner, one of President Trump’s representatives in the talks, said there is no trust between the sides right now. He said that is expected during a conflict like this.

Who are the U.S. representatives meeting next?

Kushner and Steve Witkoff are meeting President Putin in Moscow on Thursday. On Friday, they are due to meet Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in Europe.

What will those meetings focus on?

The representatives will try to make more progress in the U.S. peace effort. The prisoner exchange is one result, but the larger questions about security and ending the war remain.

Thank you, Grace.

Our second story is about reported Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and new United Nations action.

Ethan is LinguaWire’s correspondent for security, and he has been covering the situation.

Good morning, Daniel.

What did Saudi-led forces say happened on Thursday?

They said they intercepted suspected Houthi drones over the Riyadh region and Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. To intercept means to stop something while it is moving towards a place.

What did the Houthis say they were trying to hit?

Yahya Saree, the Houthi military spokesperson, said the group targeted oil facilities and military sites in Saudi Arabia. He said a drone targeted a pumping station on the East-West Pipeline and the Yanbu oil facility on the Red Sea.

Why is that pipeline important?

Saudi Arabia says it sends about four million barrels of crude oil a day through the East-West Pipeline to Yanbu. That is about four percent of the world’s oil supply.

Did the Houthi spokesperson report other attacks?

Yes. Saree said a drone targeted a military cargo plane at Sharurah airport, near Yemen’s border. He also claimed that a missile hit Khamis Mushait airbase.

What did he say about Saudi Aramco?

He said Houthi forces targeted the headquarters of Saudi Aramco, the Saudi oil company, in Riyadh. He denied a Saudi claim that the group targeted the Mecca region on Wednesday.

What is the situation inside Yemen?

Saudi-backed forces fighting for Yemen’s internationally recognised government say they are continuing operations against the Houthis. Yemen’s Defence Ministry also held a meeting in Marib about the fighting.

And what has the United Nations decided?

The UN Security Council extended sanctions linked to Yemen for one more year. The sanctions include travel bans and freezing assets, such as money and property. The council also demanded an end to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.

Will UN experts continue their work as well?

Yes. The Security Council also extended the work of its Panel of Experts on Yemen. The panel gives advice and recommendations about the sanctions.

Thank you, Ethan.

Part one: useful words.

exchange

An exchange is an event where people or things are given to each other; in the story, “They agreed on a prisoner exchange, with prisoners held by each side returning home.”

The two teams made an exchange of players.

ceasefire

A ceasefire is an agreement to stop fighting; in the story, “The talks did not produce an agreement on a ceasefire, or a stop in the fighting.”

The two sides agreed to a ceasefire.

trust

Trust means feeling sure that someone will do what they say; in the story, “Jared Kushner, one of President Trump’s representatives in the talks, said there is no trust between the sides right now.”

Trust is important in a friendship.

Part two: the grammar.

Near future with the present continuous: in the story, “Kushner and Steve Witkoff are meeting President Putin in Moscow on Thursday.”

We can use am, is, or are plus a verb ending in -ing for a planned future arrangement.

In the story, “Kushner and Steve Witkoff are meeting President Putin in Moscow on Thursday.”

I am meeting my teacher tomorrow.

Repeat after me: Kushner and Steve Witkoff are meeting President Putin in Moscow on Thursday.