Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selensky urges another exchange of prisoners with Russia. „We are already preparing lists and waiting for the next stage of the exchange,“ said Selensky today in Kiev according to Ukrainian media reports. Kiev wants to talk about this in the next negotiations.
Kremlin dampens expectations
The Kremlin did not rule out a new exchange of prisoners, but at the same time dampened expectations that such a move might soon take place. „This requires a new process, an exchange of views and probably a lengthy work,“ said spokesman Dmitry Peskov of the agency Interfax.
Just over a week ago, Russia and Ukraine exchanged 35 prisoners after years of confrontation. Among those arrested in Kiev were the 24 Ukrainian sailors detained in Russia since November, as well as director Oleg Senzow.
For the past five years, Germany and France, among others, have been trying to mediate in the conflict in eastern Ukraine between Kiev and the pro-Russian separatists. The four-round was named after the place of the first meeting in France „Normandy format“. Last was the September as a possible date for a new meeting in the conversation, on the Selenski now throb again.
