Ukraine is ready for a large-scale exchange of prisoners in the “1000 to 1000” format, but the implementation of the agreements depends on the actions of the aggressor country, the Russian Federation, which is delaying the process. This was stated by the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmitry Lubinets on the air of the Mi – Ukraine TV channel on May 12.
According to the Ombudsman, Ukraine has already fulfilled all the necessary obligations: it has formed and transferred the lists, and the negotiating group has completed its part of the work.
“We constantly insist on priority groups. First of all, we propose that the seriously wounded, seriously ill and those who have been in captivity since 2022 be returned. We insist on this, and more than once our mediators, those countries that help us, in this case the United States, supported this position of the Ukrainian side,” Lubinets explained.
He emphasized that it is the Russian side that is delaying the process.
“Moreover, there are also arguments to blame Ukraine, that we are allegedly delaying something. I heard these narratives that were heard from the Russian capital, that they allegedly handed us some lists, and then we refused it. This is absolutely not true. This is another Russian propaganda,” the ombudsman noted.
He added that even after reaching preliminary agreements, there is no 100 percent guarantee of their implementation by Russia, so the process remains unpredictable.
