Conflicting sides in Ukrainian Donbas ready to swap prisoners

MINSK, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine confirmed on Wednesday the conflicting parties in the Donbas region were ready to exchange the detained persons before the New Year holidays.

Martin Sajdik, the OSCE's special envoy to Contact Group on Ukraine, said at a press briefing here that the Trilateral Contact Group confirmed the exchange the detained persons following a meeting with the participation of representatives of the conflicting sides from the Donbas region.

The warring sides would like to accomplish the exchange before the New Year holidays, Sajdik said.

Donbas is located in the eastern part of Ukraine and witnessed a war since 2014 between the government troops and the separatist forces.

The next meeting of the Contact Group will take place on Dec. 5.

The trilateral contact group is a group of representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) that was formed as means to facilitate a diplomatic resolution to the war in the Donbas region. Enditem