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Rival parties in E. Ukraine fail to agree on prisoner swap formula

Xinhua, December 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

The rival parties in eastern Ukraine conflict said Wednesday they have failed to agree on a formula for the exchange of hostages at the latest meeting of the three-party Contact Group on Ukraine crisis.

Irina Gerashchenko, a representative of the Ukrainian government in the humanitarian subgroup of the Contact Group, said Kiev has offered to free 228 supporters of pro-independence insurgents in exchange for 42 Ukrainians, but rebels have rejected the proposal.

According to her, Donetsk representatives are willing to hand over 8 Ukrainians to the government forces in exchange for 228 rebel supporters, while Lugansk insurgents are seeking a prisoner exchange under the "6-for-440" formula.

"The negotiations are very difficult, but we have to search a compromise," Gerashchenko said.

Meanwhile, Daria Morozova, a Donetsk representative said that Donetsk and Lugansk are seeking an "all-for-all" prisoner exchange.

"Official Kiev did not give any response to our proposal for an exchange," Morozova said, without specifying the number of captives held by insurgents.

The prisoner swap is a key part of the Minsk ceasefire agreement designed to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine that has killed some 10,000 people since April 2014. Endit