Ukraine Latest: Heavy Fighting in Donbas, US Prisoners Discussed
Bakhmut, Donetsk region on Aug. 12.
Photographer: Anatoli Stepanov/AFP/Getty Images
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Russia for the first time expressed guarded optimism about talks with the US about a prisoner exchange involving WNBA player Brittney Griner and another jailed American. A State Department spokesperson in Washington said only that the US continues to press for their release and won’t publicly discuss details of a “substantial proposal” put on the table weeks ago.
Ukraine was downgraded to default scores by S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings after the majority of the country’s bondholders agreed to defer debt payments for two years. Data on Friday showed Russia’s GDP shrank 4% in the second quarter, a smaller decline than expected.