Donetsk, Aug 7 – DAN. Ukraine should refrain from populism and focus on meaningful dialog with Donbass over the POW exchange within the framework of the Minks talks, said DPR Foreign Minister Natalia Nikonorova.
Earlier Andrey Ermak, head of the Ukrainian president's office, told Reuters that Kiev hopes for a POW exchange in the next few weeks.
"We call on the Ukrainian authorities to focus on true work in that field rather than ostentatious readiness to carry out the exchange. Only substantial dialog consistent with the Minsk Agreements can facilitate progress on such an important humanitarian issue as bringing detainees back home, alongside restoration of their rights," Nikonorova said.
She reminded that Kiev has not performed its obligation concerning the legal clearance of the exchanged persons. The swaps took place last December and in April this year.
Nikonorova said that Kiev comes up with various reasons to deprive a number of detainees of the right to be exchange while placing ineligible persons on the swap lists.*ot