"Very difficult negotiations": Vereshchuk asks others not to interfere with evacuation of fighters from Azovstal

SVITLANA KIZILOVA - THURSDAY, 12 MAY 2022, 17:57

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories Iryna Vereshchuk is asking "some politicians, journalists and public figures" not to comment on the government's attempts to evacuate wounded fighters from Mariupol's Azovstal, as negotiations with Russia are "very difficult".          

Source : Vereshchuk in Telegram

Vereshchuk: "On behalf of the President, we are conducting very difficult negotiations on the evacuation of seriously wounded fighters from Azovstal in exchange for captured Russians.

Unfortunately, public comments by some politicians, journalists and public figures on the content of the talks not only misinform and confuse the public, but also harm the negotiation process.

I beg you. It's about people's lives. Refrain from public comments about what you do not know. If all goes well and we get people out, then do what you want. And now please act responsibly and do not interfere…

I urge everyone to work sincerely, and not to engage in unrealistic arguments and statements. Only realism and sobriety of thoughts and actions will deliver results."

Details : Vereshchuk said that currently the Ukrainian side is negotiating with regard to only 38 seriously wounded (incapacitated) fighters. It is working "step by step". If it manages to exchange 38 severely injured, "we will take the next step".

She stressed that "there are currently no talks on the exchange of 500 or 600 people, as reported by some media".

What happened previously: On 11 May, the Deputy Prime Minister announced that the Ukrainian side had offered the Russians to exchange the severely wounded Ukrainian servicemen who remain in Azovstal for captured Russian servicemen.

Vereshchuk also explained that, as of now, it is impossible to break the blockade of Azovstal by military means.

On 6 May, as part of another exchange with the Russian side, 41 Ukrainians were returned: 28 military personnel and 13 civilians.