The Kremlin has accused Ukraine of it to postpone an indefinite exchange of prisoners of war and soldier bodies, leaving more than 1,200 sets of Ukrainian remains at an exchange point with anyone to pick them up.
Russia and Ukraine led a second round of peace talks in Istanbul on Monday, where the two countries corresponded to exchange more prisoners – aimed at the youngest and seriously injured – and to bring back the bodies of 12,000 dead soldiers.
“In strict agreement with the agreements in Istanbul, on June 6, Russia started a humanitarian operation to transfer to Ukraine more than 6,000 bodies of killed Ukrainian soldiers, and to exchange wounded and seriously sick prisoners, and prisoners of war at the age of 25,” said Kremlin Vladky.
He said that 1,212 bodies of killed Ukrainian soldiers were ready in cooled containers at the exchange point, located on the border between the two countries, but Ukrainian negotiators had not come.
Russia had also transferred the first list of 640 prisoners of war from Ukraine, categorized as “wounded, seriously ill and young people”, to start the exchange, Mr Medinsky added.
Ukrainian officials who are responsible for the stock markets did not respond to a request for comment.
Mr. Medinsky urged Ukraine to strictly keep the schedule and the similarities and to continue with the stock market immediately.
“We are on the spot. We are fully willing to work. International TV channels, news agencies and correspondents are welcome to come and see that this is indeed the case,” he said.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said that Ukraine is abandoning a date for the next round of the fairs of prisoners.
“The Russian side has provided the Ukrainian side a list of 640 names, but the Ukrainian side currently remembers a date for the return of these persons and the transfer of the corresponding number of Russian prisoners of war,” said Lieutenant General Alexander Zorin in a statement.
Still no ceases -fire agreement
Representatives from Ukraine and Russia met for about an hour in Istanbul on Monday, for only the second such negotiation round since March 2022.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described the meeting as “great” and said he hoped that the next meeting would include Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zenskyy and US President Donald Trump.
Both parties agreed to exchange more prisoners of war and to return the bodies of 12,000 dead soldiers.
A ceasefire could not be agreed this week during peace talks that are being held in Istanbul this week. ((AP: Ukrainian Ministry of Defense))
However, there was no breakthrough on a proposed cease -the fire that Ukraine, the European allies and Washington all insisted on Russia to accept.
The Kremlin said that the process of achieving an arrangement that would end the war in Ukraine was extremely complex, and it would be wrong to expect imminent decisions.
Kyiv said that Mr Putin is not interested in peace, but suggested holding more conversations before the end of June.
Mr. Zenskyy also has a proposed cease -the fire until a meeting can be arranged with the Russian president.
“My proposal, which I believe can support our partners, is that we have a ceasefiring -the Russians agree until the leaders meet,” said the Lord Zenskyy.
“At the moment people will understand that the nations, Europe, Ukraine and the whole world have the chance to end the war.”
Reuters
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