Kremlin: Ukraine and Russia agreed to swap 175 POWs each

• Trump and Putin agreed to stay in contact
• Discussed Middle East, energy
• Putin reaffirmed commitment to peaceful resolution of conflict
• Russia and US to set up expert groups on Ukrainian settlement
• Russia to hand over 23 gravely injured Ukrainian servicement

This doesn’t sound like a big ceasefire announcement.

• There are a number of points concerning ensuring control over possible ceasefire
• In context of ceasefire initiative, Putin said there must be a stop to Ukrainian mobilization and the arming of Ukraine
• Putin and Trump expressed mutual interest in normalizing relations in light of their special responsibility for ensuring security in the world
• Putin reaffirmed his fundamental commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine in talks with Trump – Kremlin
• Putin backs idea not to hit energy facilities for 30 days
• Trump backed Putin’s idea of organizing ice hockey games in the US between Russia and US players

Now we’re talking.

This article was written by Adam Button at www.forexlive.com.