Ukraine willing to swap 20 convicted Russians for Ukrainian hostages illegally held by Russia, MP Iryna Herashchenko says
"The Ukrainian side is doing its best to ensure the next round of prisoner swap is carried out as soon as possible," she told a briefing on Monday, Censor.NET reports citing UNIAN.
According to the MP, it is vital for Ukraine to get the "Kremlin prisoners" released.
"The Ukrainian side is ready to hand over 20 Russians who are being held in Ukrainian prisons for violating Ukrainian legislation and participating in the war in order to release Oleh Sentsov, Oleksandr Kolchenko, and other prisoners," Herashchenko said.
According to her, Russia demonstrates no willingness to resolve this issue, therefore Ukraine counts on the support of international partners.
Herashchenko also recalled that Ukraine had supported the UK in the case of the ex-spy poisoning in the British Salisbury, having joined an international move to expel Russian diplomats. According to the official, the Minsk group will also discuss violations of the "Easter truce." She noted that this will be one of the key issues to be discussed at the meeting of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, scheduled for the next week.
In addition, Herashchenko stressed that it is unacceptable for militants to shoot down OSCE SMM's UAVs. She noted that "this is already a 13th [ceasefire] agreement throughout the years of war, but the truce has never been observed by the Russian Federation and militants." She also recalled that all Normandy Four leaders (Ukraine, Germany, France, Russia) had supported the "Easter truce" this time.
