The spokesman for the European External Action Service (EEAS) welcomed, on 29 December, a “significant exchange” of detainees - 76 Ukrainians, including 12 military personnel against 124 pro-Russian - between Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists in the self-proclaimed Republics of Lugansk and Donetsk.
“This is a welcome example of implementation of one of the measures agreed at the Normandy 4 summit of 9 December” (see EUROPE 12387/22), he said in a statement.
“The European Union expects all parties to further build on this momentum. Work to implement the measures agreed at the Summit must continue”, the spokesman said. On 31 December, the Russian and Ukrainian presidents agreed to immediately prepare a new exchange of prisoners, including those held in Crimea.
As five former police officers accused of shooting demonstrators during the events in Maidan in 2014 and whose trial was ongoing in Kyiv were handed over to the separatists, the EEAS spokesperson hoped that “all accusations will continue to be investigated and the parties concerned to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice”.
He also stressed the importance of the full implementation of the Minsk agreements, including a permanent ceasefire, “the only way to achieve a sustainable and peaceful solution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine”.
EU condemns opening of the Kerch railway bridge
On 23 December, the spokesman denounced the construction of the railway section of the Kerch Bridge and the opening of traffic to the Crimean peninsula without the consent of Ukraine. The railway link “is yet another step towards a forced integration of the illegally-annexed peninsula with Russia and Crimea’s isolation from Ukraine of which it remains a part”, he denounced. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)