Ukraine, Separatists Swap Prisoners

Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine's east have swapped hundreds of prisoners as Russia names NATO's expansion as a critical threat.

BBC reports that the soldiers were traded in the eastern city of Donetsk, which has been a center of fighting between the Ukrainian military and pro-Russian separatists because of the large Russian speaking population and its identification with Russia.

Control of the city is split between both sides, with Ukrainian forces controlling the airport and small pockets of the city, which is mostly under pro-Russian rebel control.

The rebels released 150 Ukrainian soldiers for 220 separatists, according to BBC. It is the largest single prisoner swap in the low boiling conflict that has claimed nearly 5,000 lives since it began in April.

The swap appears to be more in the spirit of the Christmas season than indicative of any progress toward a lasting peace. BBC notes that negotiations between two sides in Belarus collapsed on Christmas Eve. It is unclear if, or when, the talks will resume.

With the violence in Ukraine still ongoing, Reuters reports that Russia has named NATO expansion as something it views as a key threat to its critical interests. This is not the first time that Russia has stated as much, but with violence in Ukraine, said to be fueled by Russian forces and arms, such a declaration carries new weight.

The new Russian declaration is also significant because Ukraine recently renounced its position as neutral, the first step in joining a mutual defense organization like NATO. The move infuriated the government in Moscow, according to Reuters.

Joining NATO is a years' long proposition that takes many difficult reforms, and even if Ukraine were to successfully complete such measures, there is no guarantee that NATO would accept Ukraine. The fact that it would clearly alienate Russia also makes Ukrainian ascension into NATO that much more unlikely.