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title: "\"A good first step\""
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Prisoner exchange agreed to in Russia-Ukraine talks ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­    ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  

| View in browser November 11, 2026 Good Wednesday evening. In this edition: Russia and Ukraine agree to prisoner exchange as peace talks end without major breakthrough to end war. Plus, Mississippi race, Veterans Day and Epstein petition. Russia-Ukraine Talks U.S.-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine concluded in Abu Dhabi with an agreement in principle on a large-scale prisoner exchange but no breakthrough on ending the nearly five-year war. The two days of negotiations marked the first direct talks between the two countries since February. Jared Kushner, a U.S. envoy and President Trump's son-in-law, described the discussions as "very substantive," although significant differences remain over territory and post-war security guarantees. "The conversations were very thorough," he told reporters at a news conference. "We covered all the relevant issues and were able to do a good exchange of ideas. Some areas we see places where we find compromises, others we need to have more discussions. But I think this was a good first step." Mr. Kushner said the number of prisoners to be exchanged would be finalized Thursday, when he and fellow U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff are scheduled to travel to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin before heading to Dublin to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. "Steve and I are going to travel to Moscow tomorrow to meet with President Putin to go over what was discussed today and try to make more progress on some of the issues we discussed, because we see some openings and opportunities there," he said. One of the goals of the Moscow meeting is to secure Russian support for expanding future negotiations to include European representatives. European officials were in Abu Dhabi for consultations with U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators but did not participate directly in the talks with Russia. Mr. Kushner said European involvement would be necessary to establish a post-war security framework. Mr. Kushner acknowledged that territorial disputes remain the biggest obstacle to an agreement and said security guarantees for Ukraine could not be implemented until those disputes and other outstanding issues were resolved. "We do believe that as we discuss these other issues, we'll find a pathway to settle them all at the same time," he said. "I think that having these discussions is very important, but the implementation of post-war security will not occur until there's an agreement on territory and all other bilateral issues." Mr. Kushner also expressed hope that Presidents Putin and Zelensky would eventually meet face-to-face, although he acknowledged that significant progress would be necessary before such a meeting could take place. "Just to be transparent, I think what the Russians have said is they'd like to see more progress made before that happens," he said. "I think that, clearly, there's not, you know, great trust or love between the leaders." Despite the difficulties, Mr. Kushner said he believes both sides want to find a resolution to the conflict and that the negotiations have identified the elements of a potential agreement. He stressed that the final decisions would have to be made by Presidents Putin and Zelensky, who should meet "at the right time." "We saw all the different ingredients to make a deal and we just have to figure out how can we refine those ingredients, organize those ingredients, and then create the right structure and the right pathway to do it," he told reporters. "I think we have a little bit more work we need to do to get it there. And again, we are pushing a boulder up hill." Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on Feb. 24, 2022, nearly five years ago. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers have been killed on both sides, while the United Nations has verified more than 17,600 civilian deaths in Ukraine. The actual death toll is believed to be considerably higher. Watch the Abu Dhabi press conference. In other news… Democrat Scott Colom won election to the U.S. Senate in Mississippi, defeating incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), according to the Associated Press, which called the race just before 6pm ET. Mr. Colom, a district attorney, will become the first Black senator to represent Mississippi since 1881. Democrats and independents who caucus with them have now secured 55 Senate seats, with one race left to be called: Alaska, where Democrat Mary Peltola's lead over Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) has been slowly growing. Rep. Darren Soto's (D-FL) narrow victory in Florida's 9th District on Tuesday also means that no Democratic House incumbents lost reelection to a Republican in the midterms. While several House Democrats lost their primaries, none were defeated by Republicans in the general election. Democrats have so far gained a net 42 House seats, with 12 races still to be called, according to the AP. President Trump and lawmakers from both parties marked Veterans Day with observances, wreath-laying ceremonies and floor speeches, paying tribute to those who have served their country in uniform. "On Veterans Day, we reaffirm our undying gratitude to every patriot who has answered the call of duty," the president said at Arlington National Cemetery. "We offer you our deepest respect and love, and we pledge to you our utmost loyalty." Following the ceremony, a group accompanying Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was reprimanded by a U.S. Army sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier after laughter could be heard while they posed for photographs. "All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times!" the sentinel yelled. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the soldier "correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum," adding that Mr. Hegseth and the department have always honored the sacrifices of service members. A bipartisan effort to force another House vote on legislation requiring the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein secured the necessary 218 signatures after Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) signed a discharge petition led by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY). The legislation would allow victims, state attorneys general and local prosecutors to sue the federal government over withheld or improperly redacted Epstein-related records. The petition bypasses Republican leadership and could force a vote later this month, following a required seven-legislative-day waiting period. For your radar… The Battleship Missouri Memorial at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii, hosts a ceremony honoring military veterans on Wednesday night. Watch LIVE on C-SPAN2 at 9:30pm ET. 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