USA Hopes Russia To Bolster Implementation Of ‘Minsk Accords’ In Response To Ukraine’s Intention To Surrender 15 Persons To Militants

The United States of America hopes that Russia will bolster implementation of the agreements reached in Minsk, Belarus on February 12, 2015, in response to Ukraine’s intention to surrender 15 persons to militants.

Ukrainian News Agency has seen a readout of Vice President Joe Biden’s Calls with President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, published by Office of the Vice President on the White House website.

The U.S. Vice President voiced strong support for the Ukrainian Government's decision today to unilaterally release 15 individuals taken prisoner during the conflict, expressing hope that Russia and Russian-backed separatists would respond in kind to this goodwill gesture and give momentum to the prisoner exchange process stipulated in the Minsk agreements.

The leaders reiterated their unwavering support for full implementation of the Minsk agreements and underscored the need to reinstitute a full cease-fire and ensure full access for Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) monitors to enable further disengagement of forces along the line of contact in Donbas.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, Ukraine is likely to pass 15 out of the 228 persons, requested by the terrorist organisations “Donetsk People's Republic” (DPR) and “Luhansk People's Republic” (LPR) to militants before December 21.

Several of these 15 are severely ill and six are women.

Ukraine was ready to swap 228 militants for 42 Ukrainian prisoners of war in Donetsk Region.