Iryna Vereshchuk: Negotiations on the exchange of prisoners are ongoing

Negotiations on the exchange of prisoners of war are ongoing.

This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine - Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk on STB TV channel.

"We are trying to find common ground with the russians on this issue, including the

exchange of border guards from Zmiyiny Island. But there is a problem. The occupiers have a bad habit of taking civilians hostage," she said. "Their release is a separate issue".

According to Iryna Vereshchuk, russia insists on parity during the talks. That is, border guards need to be changed to border guards, sailors - to sailors and so on.

Here a logical question arises: who will we exchange city mayors to, which are already fourteen hostages?

"Currently, this issue is being resolved at the international level," Iryna Vereshchuk explained, adding that the Red Cross is mediating the talks. But here, too, not without nuances. In Ukraine, its representatives have access to russian prisoners. In russia to ours – they don’t. However, the Red Cross is silent about it for some reason," the official said.