Ukraine's representative in the Trilateral Contact Group, which mediates the Donbas conflict, Leonid Kuchma, has welcomed the release of three Ukrainians and hopes the process will be unblocked at the group's next meeting in Minsk on February 24.
“This work is very complicated and exhausting but each time that Ukrainian citizens can return to their relatives and friends, you understand that all is not in vain. And this gives the strength for proceeding in the same direction. I hope today’s release will signal that the hostage-exchange process will also be unblocked and continue at the next meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk on February 24,” Kuchma said, according to his press secretary Darya Olifer’s Facebook post.It has been nearly four months since the previous swap took place, Olifer said.
“At each meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk, Leonid Kuchma has been very tough and principled in raising the issue of our people’s release,” his press secretary said.
It was reported that a three-for-six prisoner swap took place in Donetsk region on Saturday. Donetsk militants released three Ukrainian soldiers in exchange for five militant fighters and a priest handed over by Ukraine.
