Russia, Ukraine maintain contacts through Belarus, discuss prisoner exchanges

Russia and Ukraine continue to exchange legal and consular correspondence through Belarus, with prisoner exchanges and the return of civilians among the key issues under discussion, the Russian Foreign Ministry has stated.

Aleksey Polishchuk, head of the Ministry’s Second CIS Department, expressed gratitude to Belarusian allies and representatives of other countries for the “good offices” they continue to provide, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

On May 24, he said Moscow remains in contact with Kyiv at the working level.

Earlier, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States, Olha Stefanishyna, said there is currently no proposal on the negotiating table that is “even remotely acceptable” to either Russia or Ukraine.

She noted that “new energy” is emerging around the peace process.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov