US State Department hails recent Ukraine-Russia prisoner exchange
US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce (Photo: Getty Images)
The US welcomes the recent prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia, states US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
According to her, President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have long said that the only real solution is possible only through direct negotiations between the parties.
She also confirmed that the US side remains in close contact with both parties at the highest level.
In addition, Bruce positively commented on the recent prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia, particularly involving severely wounded individuals and young prisoners under the age of 25, as well as the return of the bodies of fallen soldiers.
"All that's all I can tell you. We welcome that progress in the meantime," the State Department spokesperson said.
Major Ukraine-Russia prisoner exchange
Following the second round of negotiations in Istanbul on June 2, the Ukrainian and Russian sides agreed on a prisoner exchange in the format of 6000 for 6000.
The first phase of the exchange took place on June 9, during which the sides exchanged severely wounded, ill, and young soldiers aged 18 to 25.
Some of the Ukrainian servicemen who were returned from captivity have serious injuries and are unable to move on their own.
The Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) declined to disclose the number of soldiers returned from captivity in order not to jeopardize the overall process.
