Ukrainian authorities and Russia-backed separatists in the war-torn east of the country prepared to swap dozens of prisoners on Sunday in a frontline operation that has stirred controversy. “There should be an exchange,” Zelensky told reporters on Saturday, confirming the move but without giving precise details. The swap would come three months after Ukraine carried out a long-awaited exchange with Russia of 35 prisoners each. Moscow went on to annex Crimea and support insurgents in eastern Ukraine, who launched a bid for independence in 2014. The Kremlin has sent signals that it is ready to work with Zelensky, who Putin has described as “likeable”.

Source: The Guardian December 29, 2019 09:11 UTC