Ukrainian PM, president tell Biden about implementation of Minsk agreements
KYIV. Dec 16 (Interfax) - U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden hopes that the prisoner swap between Kyiv and Donbas will be given a fresh impetus by the Ukrainian decision to transfer 15 captives.
"The Vice President voiced strong support for the Ukrainian Government's decision today to unilaterally release 15 individuals [...], expressing hope that Russia and Russian-backed separatists would respond in kind to this goodwill gesture and give momentum to the prisoner exchange process stipulated in the Minsk agreements," the White House said on Friday in a report following Biden's calls with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman.
"The leaders reiterated their unwavering support for full implementation of the Minsk agreements and underscored the need to reinstitute a full cease-fire and ensure full access for OSCE monitors to enable further disengagement of forces along the line of contact," the report said.
"The leaders agreed that sanctions on Russia should remain in place until Russia has fully implemented its Minsk commitments," it said.
In addition, Biden "expressed hope that Ukraine's Association Agreement with the EU will be ratified in the coming months and that Ukrainians will soon benefit from visa-free travel to the EU," the report said.