By prolonging the Ukrainian POW sailors’ term of remand, as well as by simplifying the granting of Russian passports to residents of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Russia attempts to put pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for July 21, according to Kurt Volker, the U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine negotiations.
Russia's War Against Ukraine
UNIAN: Volker says Russia extends remand of Ukrainian sailors to pressure Zelensky
A Russian security service officer escorts a detained Ukrainian sailor to a courthouse in Moscow on Jan. 15, 2019.
