Planned Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap descends into blame game and uncertainty

The text presents conflicting narratives from Russian and Ukrainian officials regarding a failed POW exchange. Russian statements rely heavily on emotionally charged language (Appeal to Emotion), such as images of “frozen bodies,” to provoke outrage. Assertions that Ukraine postponed the exchange “to avoid acknowledging losses” (False Cause) are speculative and unsupported. Russia’s repeated emphasis on Kyiv's refusal to “accept its dead” serves as a Red Herring, distracting from the logistical and diplomatic context. Additionally, both sides deploy Biased Language that casts blame and obscures facts, undermining trust and clarity in humanitarian negotiations. These rhetorical tactics damage transparency in already fragile peace talks.