The prisoner swap and return of Trevor Reed indicates that the United States and Russia are at least maintaining some form of communication even as the rhetoric – and economic consequences of U.S. sanctions – continue to escalate.  I do not foresee, however, any substantive change in U.S. policy and military support of Ukraine as a result of this trade.  Indeed, there are more prominent U.S.  and Russian prisoners still detained in each respective country, and the likelihood of more exchanges in the current environment appears remote. Nevertheless, the return of Trevor Reed provides a glimmer of hope for other U.S. prisoners currently stuck in the Russian criminal justice system.