Ukraine, Russia conduct first prisoner swap

A police car drives past a burning warehouse hit by a shell in the suburbs of Kyiv, on March 24, 2022.
(FADEL SENNA / AFP)

KYIV/UNITED NATIONS/MOSCOW – Ukraine and Russia conducted the first prisoner swap since the start of the conflict, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on Thursday.

Ukraine handed over 11 civilian Russian sailors, who were rescued from a sunken ship near Odesa to Russia in exchange for 19 Ukrainian civilian sailors, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said

Ten Ukrainian prisoners-of-war held by the Russian military were released in exchange for ten Russian soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces, Vereshchuk said on Facebook.

Besides, Ukraine handed over 11 civilian Russian sailors, who were rescued from a sunken ship near Odesa to Russia in exchange for 19 Ukrainian civilian sailors, Vereshchuk said.

Resolution on Ukraine's humanitarian situation

Meanwhile, the United Natons member states on Thursday adopted a resolution on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.

The resolution, drafted by Ukraine and allies, received 140 votes in favor and 5 votes against, while 38 countries abstained.

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The text strongly encourages the continued negotiations between all parties, and again urges the immediate peaceful resolution of the conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine "through political dialogue, negotiations, mediation and other peaceful means in accordance with international law."

President Joe Biden speaks about the conflict in Ukraine during a news conference after a NATO summit and Group of Seven meeting at NATO headquarters on March 24, 2022, in Brussels. (EVAN VUCCI / AP)

NATO members have demonstrated their loyalty to the US by vowing to follow its orders aimed at ultimately containing Russia, said Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, adding Washington once again "disciplined" its allies by pressuring sovereign countries and further erasing Europe's strategic autonomy

Russia: NATO confirms desire to prolong conflict

The Russian Foreign Ministry said the extraordinary summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization held Thursday has confirmed the alliance's desire to contain Russia and prolong the military conflict in Ukraine.

"The decision announced at the summit to continue providing political and practical support to the Kyiv regime confirms the alliance's interest in continuing hostilities," the ministry's spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a statement.

NATO members have demonstrated their loyalty to Washington by vowing to follow its orders aimed at ultimately containing Russia, she said, adding Washington once again "disciplined" its allies by pressuring sovereign countries and further erasing Europe's strategic autonomy.

"They silently watched the United States destroy the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, stood aside when Washington withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, allowed the Americans to withdraw from the Treaty on Open Skies," Zakharova said, stressing that NATO members have been slowly destroying the European security system.

READ MORE: Russia rebukes NATO over arming Ukraine

NATO is using its "anti-Russian course" as a pretext to increase the purchase of weapons, which are being supplied by the US military industrial complex, she noted.

To cover up Washington's "dirty practices" regarding secret research on biological and chemical weapons, NATO has launched a groundless disinformation campaign accusing Russia of possible provocations, the spokesperson added.

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