EU welcomes detainee exchange in Donbas

The European Union has welcomed a mutual release and exchange of detainees that took place in eastern Ukraine on Thursday, April 16.

A relevant statement has been published on the website of the European External Action Service.

"This is a welcome next step towards the implementation of one of the measures agreed at the Paris Normandy Format Summit of 9 December 2019. The European Union expects all parties to continue work to implement the Minsk agreements, including by drawing on the recommendations agreed in the Normandy Format," the statement reads.

The European Union also reaffirmed its support to the work of the Normandy Format, the OSCE and the Trilateral Contact Group.

"Full implementation of the Minsk agreements is the only way to reach a sustainable and peaceful solution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. A permanent ceasefire - also as a response to the global call of UN Secretary General Guterres - would build confidence and alleviate the dire humanitarian situation," the statement reads.

The document notes that Russia and the armed formations that it backs must also ensure freedom of movement across the contact line for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission and humanitarian actors, as well as access of the International Committee of the Red Cross, to all those remaining in detention.

"The European Union remains steadfast in its firm support of Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity," the statement reads.

As was reported earlier, 20 Ukrainian citizens, who were held in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, returned to government-controlled areas as a result of a mutual release on April 16.

In particular, nine Ukrainians were held by militants for a long time in the occupied territories of Donetsk region and 11 more in the occupied territories of Luhansk region. Among them are two Ukrainian soldiers. The exchange took place at the Mayorske checkpoint in Donetsk region and near the town of Shchastia in Luhansk region.

Instead, 14 citizens left for the occupied territories. The mutual release of detainees took place as part of the "all-for-all" format.

The exchange first took place according to the formula when Ukraine transferred more people than it received. Thirty-eight people were released as a result of the exchange of detained persons on April 16. Thirty-four of them were transferred, and four refused to move to the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Upon return, Ukrainian citizens will undergo observation and verification procedures.

This was the third detainee exchange in the past seven months. The previous mutual release of detained persons took place in December 2019, when 76 Ukrainians returned home. The Office of the President of Ukraine said negotiations were underway to release those held in Russia-occupied Crimea and in Russia.

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