I am sincerely glad that Yulia Prosolova, Vladimir Tsemakh and other political prisoners previously held in the territory of Ukraine were released. I express my deep gratitude to the leadership of the Russian Federation for the efforts made in this difficult matter, the consistency and integrity of the position, including with regard to persons detained in connection with the conflict in the territory of Donbass.
I consider it particularly illustrative that this long-awaited event occurred ahead of a significant date – the Day of the liberation of Donbass from fascist invaders. For all of us, the exchange that took place today is a great victory! The victory, inspiring hope that in the near future the supporters of the Donetsk People’s Republic, who are still held by the Ukrainian side, will also be able to return to their homeland and reunite with their families, relatives and friends.
Today’s event is a clear example of the fact that the main condition for any peace initiatives is the presence of a political will. Its logical continuation would be the release of all detainees, which is provided for by the Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements. In this regard, I urge the participants of the negotiation process to continue the constructive work and to facilitate the speedy implementation of the agreements reached on the all-for-all exchange.
