Russia, Ukraine each exchange 35 prisoners in Minsk Accords breakthrough

In the biggest breakthrough in fulfilling the Minsk
Accords, the Russian and Ukrainian governments engaged in an anticipated
prisoner exchange on Sept. 7 involving the most high-profile captives. Each
side offered the other 35 prisoners. Among the Ukrainians to be released were
Crimean filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, Crimean Tatar activist Edem Bekirov, Ukrinform
correspondent Roman Sushchenko and all the 24 navy sailors detained on Nov. 25.
Among those released to the Russians were Donetsk fighter Volodymyr Tsemakh,
RIA Novosti Kyiv Bureau Director Kirill Vyshinsky, former Ukrainian Cabinet
employee Stanislav Yezhov (convicted of treason) and numerous Russian citizens
who fought in the Russian-backed Donetsk and Luhansk armies.

As part of the President’s Office’s limited comments
on the exchange, Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian President Putin fulfilled his
end of what he described as “the first stage of the unblocking of our dialogue,
the first stage of ending the war, the return of our soldiers, our prisoners, our
navy sailors, the return of our territories,” as reported by the pravda.com.ua
news site. The most complicated stage is next, Zelensky said. “I think we and
the whole country will return not only our people, but also our territories.
Very soon, I hope that we will have a Normandy Four meeting during which we
will discuss steps not only for the future, but the nearest future. We should
take all steps to stop this horrible war.” Zelensky initiated his latest phone
call with Putin on Sept. 7, during which Putin stressed the need to continue
all-encompassing preparatory work for the Normandy Four format so that “it
brings results and realistically promotes the fulfillment of existing
agreements at the highest level, above all the Minsk ‘complex of measures’,” as
reported by the Kremlin press-service.

Another 110 Ukrainians are being held captive on the
territory of the Russian Federation and occupied Crimea, said on Sept. 7
Liudmyla Denisova, the parliamentary human rights ombudsman. Another 227
Ukrainians are being held prisoners in the occupied territories of the Donetsk
and Luhansk regions, collectively known as Donbas, the Security Service of
Ukraine reported the same day. Since 2014, 3,280 Ukrainian citizens have been
freed from Russia and Russian-occupied territory, the SBU reported.

Regarding the transfer of Ukrainian citizen Volodymyr
Tsemakh, a pro-Russian fighting who was a key witness in the attack on
Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17, the Dutch Prosecutor General’s Office has
requested the Russian government to transfer him to custody of the Dutch
government, several Dutch and Russian news media reported on Sept. 7. Dutch
investigators managed to question Tsemakh in relation to the attack, which
delayed his eventual transfer to Russian control, Zelensky told reporters.
Nonetheless, Dutch authorities attempted to block Tsemakh’s transfer given that
he may never face court trial.  Zelensky also confirmed that Tsemakh’s
withdrawal would have threatened the entire prisoner exchange.

Key Western leaders, including U.S. President Trump
and German Chancellor Merkel, offered positive comments in support for the
prisoner exchange, with Merkel stressing the need for it to ultimately lead to
the fulfillment of the Minsk Accords. In his turn, U.S. Special Envoy to
Ukraine Kurt Volker tweeted on Sept. 8, “Very pleased to see Ukrainian sailors
coming home and Ukraine-Russia prisoner exchange! Hope it builds momentum for
further prisoner exchanges, renewed ceasefire and progress toward full Minsk
implementation.”

Russian President Putin discussed preparations for the
next Normandy Four meeting during a Sept. 8 phone call with French President
Emmanuel Macron, the Kremlin press service said. Putin stressed the need for
Ukraine to fulfill the agreements reached in the Normandy Four in 2015 and
2016, “including the disbursement of forces and arms to agreed-upon locations
along the demarcation line, and the agreements in the written Steinmeier
formula.” It foresees holding local elections under the oversight of the OSCE,
which will confirm whether they met international standards. Upon confirmation,
the legislation establishing the Donbas special status (de facto autonomy)
would take effect.