"... As soon as Russia dealt the largest strike on the Ukrainian energy system a few days ago, the atmosphere at the negotiations in Abu Dhabi immediately became businesslike. ... This is an interesting cause-and-effect relationship. We need to remember it and, if necessary, once again, if Ukraine resists, encourage it towards a businesslike approach in negotiations with appropriate methods to resolve this issue. ..."
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Look at this amazing pattern. As soon as Russia dealt the largest strike on the Ukrainian energy system a few days ago, the atmosphere at the negotiations in Abu Dhabi immediately became businesslike. On our side, it has always been businesslike; on the American side, in this case, it obviously became businesslike on the Ukrainian side. This is an interesting cause-and-effect relationship. We need to remember it and, if necessary, once again, if Ukraine resists, encourage it towards a businesslike approach in negotiations with appropriate methods to resolve this issue. The progress we see today is that, as announced, an exchange of several hundred, more than 300 prisoners will be carried out. It is not explained what this is about, but I recall that at the second round of negotiations in Istanbul, Russian negotiators, handing over a memorandum to the Ukrainian side, indicated the need to release political prisoners in Ukraine. If this is so, and if such an agreement has been reached, this is a big step forward.