A significant Ukrainian flew with the Russians. Is there a turning point in the war?

In the occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky, evacuation of residents began following a rare meeting between Ukrainian ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets and his Russian counterpart in Belarus. This meeting, which included a flight over Russian territory, was significant as high-level interactions between Ukraine and Russia have been infrequent since the war began in 2022. A temporary local ceasefire was established to facilitate humanitarian aid and evacuate civilians, with 25 buses dispatched to assist around 750 people. Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleksandr Mishchenko expressed hope for peace talks, emphasizing Ukraine's readiness to negotiate while rejecting any notion of capitulation. He also acknowledged support from the Czech Republic, highlighting the need for military assistance, including air defense systems and aircraft to counter Russian attacks.