Zelensky announces preparation of new prisoner exchange with Russia
20 September 19:12
Ukraine is preparing a new prisoner exchange with Russia. A thousand Ukrainians may be returned home.
This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a conversation with journalists on September 19, an RBC-Ukraine correspondent reports, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
“Rustem (Umerov – ed.) spoke with Medinsky about the exchange – they are in contact. We want to take 1,000 people, we are working on the lists,” the head of state said.
Regarding the meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations, Zelenskyy said that this issue is currently “without any progress.”
“We can meet with them tomorrow if we just want to talk. But we need a result. We have read all their memoranda, we know them well. And they have read ours – they have studied them very well. They know what they want, and we know what we want,” the president said.
According to him, the Russians are now trying to delay the negotiations by all means and do not want the war to end.
“They lied once again – we meet, there is an agreement on the exchange, and in addition to the exchange, there is an agreement on the format in which the leaders meet to try to agree on the end of the war, on this or that stage. But they met and agreed only on the exchange. They came back and said: “Let’s do the exchange, let’s exchange the civilians… after the civilians, we will have a call with Rustem, and we will discuss further.” They had the call. Now they say: “We probably need to do something else – technical meetings”. That is, they are delaying everything,” he added.
Zelenskyy noted that he would discuss the issue with U.S. President Donald Trump, and he would talk to China.
“I think everyone will do a little bit to make sure that a meeting at the level of leaders takes place,” the head of state said.
On July 23, the third round of talks between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations took place in Istanbul. Previous meetings were held in Istanbul on May 16 and June 2.
The first round of negotiations resulted in an agreement, in particular, on the exchange of prisoners in the “1000 for 1000” format.
During the second round, it was agreed to exchange prisoners of war of two categories – wounded and seriously wounded, as well as soldiers under the age of 25 in the “all for all” format. In addition, the exchange of bodies of fallen soldiers was agreed upon.
