MOSCOW: Russia on Saturday (Jun 7) accused Ukraine of suspending a large-scale prisoner swap and the repatriation of the our bodies of useless troopers they’d agreed on throughout peace talks in Istanbul.
“The Ukrainian facet has unexpectedly postponed for an indefinite interval, each the acceptance of the our bodies and the change of prisoners of conflict,” Russia’s high negotiator Vladimir Medinsky mentioned on social media.
Delegations from Moscow and Kyiv agreed on Monday to swap all wounded troopers and people beneath the age of 25 who had been nonetheless held as prisoners of conflict (POWs).
It was the one concrete final result from the talks, at which Russia has repeatedly rejected Ukrainian requires an instantaneous ceasefire.
Medinsky mentioned Russia had introduced the our bodies of 1,212 killed Ukrainian troopers to the “change space” – the primary of 6,000 to be handed over.
Moscow had additionally handed over a listing to Kyiv with the names of 640 POWs to be swapped within the first stage.
Greater than 1,000 prisoners from either side are set to be launched within the largest change of the three-year battle.
“We urge Kyiv to strictly adhere to the timetable and all agreements reached, and start the change instantly,” Medinsky mentioned.
Kyiv didn’t instantly reply to the accusation.
After the Istanbul talks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the change would happen this weekend, whereas Russia mentioned it was prepared for Saturday, Sunday or Monday.
