Interaction channel on humanitarian issues established between Russia, Ukraine - Medinsky

MOSCOW. June 4 (Interfax) - An efficient channel of interaction on humanitarian issues has been established between Russia and Ukraine, Russian presidential aide and chief negotiator at the Istanbul talks Vladimir Medinsky said.

"An efficient interaction channel on all humanitarian events has been established. As for the rest of the issues, the ball is in their [the Ukrainian side's] court," Medinsky said during Russian President Vladimir Putin's meeting with government members.

Russia is ready to reconsider the possibility of introducing humanitarian pauses in certain areas of the frontline, even though Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky publicly rejected the proposal, he said.

"We proposed working out so-called humanitarian pauses in certain areas of the front for two to three days to recover the remains of service members, because for security reasons it is impossible to do this without ceasing fire. They initially supported our proposal and undertook to work it out. Literally two hours later, Zelensky publicly rejected the proposed agreement," Medinsky said at a meeting between the Russian president and government members.

"Nevertheless, we are ready to return to it," he said.

Russia is also ready to begin a prisoner swap with Ukraine on June 7-9, with final numbers being agreed upon and 1,200 people expected to be swapped from each side, Medinsky said.

"The final numbers are currently being agreed upon. We expect 1,200 people from each side, and this will again be the largest swap of POWs. We are ready to begin on June 7, 8, and 9. We are fully prepared for this on our part," he said.

The Russian and Ukrainian sides agreed in Istanbul to carry out a parity exchange of at least 1,000 people from each side, primarily in the following categories: the wounded, the seriously ill, and POWs under 25.

The Ukrainian delegation at the Istanbul talks on June 2 reaffirmed its position on starting settlement using a 30- or 60-day ceasefire to prepare for a subsequent meeting between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, Medinsky said.

"During the talks, they reaffirmed their positions, which are reduced to two points. First, to start from a 30- or 60-day unconditional ceasefire. Second, to use this ceasefire to prepare for a summit of the heads of state," he said.

"We communicated your position, that a meeting at the level of the heads of state is possible, but there is a need for substantive work on it to achieve results because the heads of state should not discuss details of agreements, but approve, that is, make final decisions on projects that are prepared and approved in advance," Medinsky said.

"The humanitarian issue was on the sidelines of the talks," he said.

"We called for focusing on the development of peace conditions, not on a new temporary ceasefire," Medinsky said.