Ukraine has unexpectedly postponed indefinitely the exchange of prisoners of war and the reception of the bodies of its fallen soldiers, said Kremlin adviser and head of the Russian delegation in the negotiations with Kiev Vladimir Medinsky, quoted by Reuters, BTA reports.
Russia and Ukraine held a new round of peace talks in Istanbul at the beginning of the week, agreeing to exchange additional prisoners of war, focusing on the youngest and most seriously injured, as well as on the return of the bodies of 12 thousand dead soldiers.
"In strict accordance with the Istanbul agreements, on June 6, Russia began a humanitarian operation to transfer to Ukraine over 6,000 bodies of killed Ukrainian soldiers, as well as the exchange of wounded and seriously ill prisoners of war, as well as those under the age of 25," Medinsky said on his Telegram account.
He added that currently 1,212 bodies of killed Ukrainian soldiers are in cold storage. Russia has also handed over to Ukraine the first list of 640 prisoners of war, categorized as "wounded, seriously ill and young", to begin the exchange, Medinsky added.
"The Russian Defense Ministry's contact group is at the border with Ukraine," he said, adding that Ukrainian negotiators had not arrived at the exchange site.
Ukrainian representatives responsible for the exchange did not respond to a request for comment, Reuters noted.
Medinsky urged Ukraine to strictly adhere to the established deadlines and agreements and to proceed with the exchange immediately.
"We are on site. We are fully ready to work. International television channels, news agencies and correspondents are welcome to see for themselves that this is exactly what is happening," the Russian negotiator added.