On Saturday 7 September, the international community - including the EU, NATO and the Council of Europe - welcomed the exchange of 70 prisoners between Russia and Ukraine, including filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, who has been in prison for 5 years (see EUROPE 11375/3), and 24 Ukrainian sailors captured in November 2018 in the Azov Sea (see EUROPE 12159/2). The community called on both countries to continue their efforts to normalize relations.
While purporting to be “relieved”, European Council President Donald Tusk continued to urge Russia to release all political prisoners and respect Ukraine's territorial integrity.
For the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, the release of prisoners “testifies to the work and determination of those, including civil society, activists and legal experts, who have worked tirelessly to achieve this result. The EU expects all parties to build on this momentum”, she advised.
The President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, described the exchange of prisoners as “a step in the right direction and a sign of appeasement between the two countries”. He also underlined his readiness to meet Mr Sentsov, winner of the Sakharov Prize 2018, in order to present him with his prize.
The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) was equally enthusiastic. For Liliane Maury Pasquier, the exchange of prisoners is “undoubtedly an act of goodwill without precedent since 2014. We encourage all concerned parties to continue their efforts to end this conflict. Full respect for the ceasefire and the withdrawal of weapons, as well as the full implementation of the Minsk agreements, are essential conditions for a lasting peace”, she stressed.
The implementation of the Minsk agreements was also highlighted by the NATO spokesperson, who called on Moscow to comply with all obligations. They reiterated that it is important that truth and responsibility be established for the crash of flight MH17. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)