Donetsk, Dec 19 - DAN. Ukraine failed the arrangements for the prisoner exchange with the Donbass Republics agreed by the “Normandy Four”, Donetsk People’s Republic representative to the humanitarian subgroup, DPR ombudswoman Darya Morozova said on Wednesday.
“The talks at the meeting of the Contact Group humanitarian subgroup for the Donbass settlement were focused on preparing prisoner exchange accords,” Morozova said. “Regrettably, we can state that Ukraine’s position is to sabotage all recommendations spelled out at the “Normandy Four” summit in Paris on December 9.”
The Ukrainian delegation’s destructive position failed the implementation of the recommendation which the “Normandy Four” worked out for the prisoner exchange by the end of 2019, she added.
“The official Kiev’s inability to fulfil the obligations it has undertaken will result in people’s being unable to reunite with their relatives for the New Year holidays,” the ombudswoman said.
Earlier reports said that a new round of Donbass peace talks had been held in Minsk.
On December 9, Paris hosted a summit of the leaders of the “Normandy Four” states (Germany, Russia, France, Ukraine). In the course of the talks, the parties prepared an outcome document which stated that a number of accords had been reached. One of the expected results was the decision to carry out a prisoner exchange in Donbass under the “all verified for all verified” principle by yearend. The participants also pledged to ensure a full and comprehensive ceasefire by the end of 2019 and agreed to support the Contact Group accord on three more areas for the disengagement of forces and hardware in the conflict zone by the end of March 2020.*jk