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Ukrainian government and pro-Russian rebels exchange more prisoners Ukrainian government and pro-Russian rebels exchange more prisoners
(about 1 hour later)
DONETSK, Ukraine — The Ukrainian president repeated Friday there could be no military solution to the crisis engulfing the east of his country and said new sanctions against Russia imposed by the United States and the European Union show the solidarity his country enjoys. DONETSK, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko repeated Friday there could be no military solution to the crisis engulfing eastern Ukraine and said new sanctions against Russia imposed by the United States and the European Union show the solidarity his country enjoys.
Poroshenko also announced Friday that his government had exchanged dozens of prisoners in an overnight swap with pro-Russian separatists as part of the shaky cease-fire deal between the two sides that went into effect a week ago.Poroshenko also announced Friday that his government had exchanged dozens of prisoners in an overnight swap with pro-Russian separatists as part of the shaky cease-fire deal between the two sides that went into effect a week ago.
“There is no military solution for this crisis,” Poroshenko told EU and Ukrainian lawmakers and businessmen at a conference in Kiev. “To keep the country united, we need some decentralization of power,” he said, adding that security and foreign policy must stay in the hands of the central government. “There is no military solution for this crisis,” Poroshenko told E.U. and Ukrainian lawmakers and businessmen at a conference in Kiev. “To keep the country united, we need some decentralization of power,” he said, adding that security and foreign policy must stay in the hands of the central government.
The conference — the annual Yalta European Strategy Conference — was held in Kiev rather than Yalta, a city located in Crimea, which Moscow annexed in March in a lightning assault at the beginning of the five-month-old conflict, which has claimed the lives of almost 3,000 people. The conference — the annual Yalta European Strategy Conference — was held in Kiev rather than Yalta, a city located in Crimea. Moscow annexed the Ukrainian autonomous region in March after pro-Russian separatists backed by Russian troops seized control of the peninsula and staged an independence referendum. Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine followed suit in April, triggering a five-month-old conflict that has claimed the lives of almost 3,000 people.
The prisoner exchange meanwhile took place under the cover of darkness outside the rebel-held city of Donetsk in embattled eastern Ukraine overnight Friday. The prisoner exchange took place under the cover of darkness outside the rebel-held city of Donetsk in embattled eastern Ukraine early Friday.
Poroshenko said 36 Ukrainian servicemen were released in exchange for 31 pro-Russian separatists. He said a further 21 soldiers were freed Thursday. Rebels returned 700 Ukrainian prisoners earlier this week in the first swap under the cease-fire deal reached during recent talks in Minsk. Hundreds of prisoners are believed to be held by each side, although no figures have been released. Poroshenko said 36 Ukrainian servicemen were released in exchange for 31 pro-Russian separatists. He said 21 soldiers were freed Thursday. Rebels returned 700 Ukrainian prisoners earlier this week in the first swap under the cease-fire deal reached during recent talks in Minsk, Belarus. Hundreds of prisoners are believed to be held by each side, although no figures have been released.
The cease-fire took effect last Friday. Violations appear to have been frequent, but both sides maintain the cease-fire is holding. Shortly after Friday’s prison exchange, rocket fire was heard from central Donetsk, according to the Associated Press. The cease-fire took effect last Friday. Violations appear to have been frequent, but both sides maintain that the truce is holding. Shortly after Friday’s prisoner exchange, rocket fire was heard from central Donetsk, according to the Associated Press.
The prisoner exchange took place around 1:30 a.m. when a group of Ukrainian servicemen was driven away from the local security services headquarters, the AP reported. They were taken to a location several miles north of the city, where they were met by Ukrainian military officials, some of whom were armed, according to the AP. Prisoners were split up into small groups for the exchange.The prisoner exchange took place around 1:30 a.m. when a group of Ukrainian servicemen was driven away from the local security services headquarters, the AP reported. They were taken to a location several miles north of the city, where they were met by Ukrainian military officials, some of whom were armed, according to the AP. Prisoners were split up into small groups for the exchange.
“There is an ongoing process of talks,” Yuriy Tandit, a negotiator for the government, told the AP. “We are meeting each other’s demands and fulfilling our promises.”“There is an ongoing process of talks,” Yuriy Tandit, a negotiator for the government, told the AP. “We are meeting each other’s demands and fulfilling our promises.”
Meanwhile, the United States and the European Union announced stricter sanctions against Russia Thursday, ratcheting up pressure against Moscow for its involvement in the Ukraine crisis. Meanwhile, the United States and the European Union announced stricter sanctions against Russia on Thursday, ratcheting up pressure against Moscow for its involvement in the Ukraine crisis.
The sanctions, which go into effect Friday, take aim at Russia’s energy sector and further constrict the country’s vital financial and defense industries’ access to global markets and resources. They strengthen measures that the United States and the E.U. instituted in late July to target key engines of the Russian economy after the downing of passenger jet Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine, which shocked the world. The sanctions, which go into effect Friday, take aim at Russia’s energy sector and further constrict the country’s vital financial and defense industries’ access to global markets and resources. They strengthen measures that the United States and the E.U. instituted in late July to target key engines of the Russian economy after the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine. The Boeing 777 carrying 298 passengers and crew was shot down by a Russian-supplied surface-to-air missile system from rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine, U.S. and Ukrainian officials said.
Daniela Deane reported from Rome. Deane reported from Rome.