Russia and Ukraine continue largest prisoner exchange in history
(Baonghean.vn) - Ukraine and Russia will continue to exchange prisoners with each other, especially in the Donbass region, in an effort to implement the treaties in the Minsk Agreement.
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| President Vladimir Zelensky (center) witnesses the exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine. Photo: TASS |
"Since September 7, when the prisoners were returned, we have continued to do so every day. Even after the first day of exchange, the presidents of the two countries had a phone call, noting and marking the first steps in resuming negotiations," said Ukrainian presidential aide Andrei Yermak in an interview with the Ukrainian newspaper "Ukrainian Truth" on September 9.
Presidential Assistant Yermak also added that negotiations regarding the next prisoner exchange will be conducted promptly and promptly.
"President Zelensky has set urgent tasks for all authorities to speed up the process," said Andrei Yermak.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky have discussed holding new peace talks, following a prisoner exchange between the two countries, seen as a landmark move in bilateral diplomatic relations that have plunged to an all-time low.
The Ukrainian President's office said that both leaders also agreed to discuss in the near future the timing of a summit in the form of the "Normandy Four", with the participation of both France and Germany.
Shortly after Russia and Ukraine exchanged 70 prisoners, leaders from several countries around the world congratulated this landmark event. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called the event a "sign of hope" and called on both sides to implement the ceasefire in accordance with the Minsk Agreement signed in 2015, in which France and Germany played a mediating role. US President Donald Trump also wrote on his Twitter page, congratulating Russia and Ukraine on this important step.
On September 7, Moscow and Kiev conducted the largest prisoner exchange ever, using the "35 for 35" method.
The prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine has been accelerated since Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky came to power.
Since several weeks ago, negotiations, agreements on exchange lists and settlement of legal procedures for citizens of the two countries have been actively underway.
Previously, on September 5, Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed that the exchange represented a major step forward in the process of normalizing relations between the two countries.
