Ukraine fears being "inferior" after prisoner swap deal between Russia and the West

The prisoner swap between Russia and the West on August 1 has raised concerns in Ukraine about the potential implications of the deal.

Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes citizens returning from a prisoner exchange between Russia and the West at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow on August 1. (Source: Reuters)

While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other senior officials have not commented publicly, the complexity and importance of the deal cannot be overlooked.

The Kremlin was quick to dismiss any speculation that the exchange could lead to peace talks on Ukraine. However, Ukrainian officials have expressed concern about the possibility of secret talks between the West and Russia and the risk that Kiev could be excluded from important discussions.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to President Zelensky, stressed in an interview with The Washington Post that Ukraine must be part of any deal that affects its future. Meanwhile, Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said the prisoner swap could set a worrying precedent.

Under a multinational prisoner swap deal that took place on August 1 at the airport tarmac in the Turkish capital Ankara, 10 Russians, including two minors, were exchanged for 16 Westerners and Russians detained in Russia and Belarus.

The deal was the result of months of secret negotiations between the parties involved and was brokered by Türkiye. The group of Westerners released included citizens of the United States, Slovenia, Norway, Germany and Poland.

US President Joe Biden called the leaders of Germany, Poland, Slovenia and Norway to thank them for agreeing to release Russian prisoners under the deal. He also thanked Türkiye for agreeing to host the prisoner swap.

Russia rolled out the red carpet for its prisoners at Moscow airport and President Putin hugged them as they stepped off the plane. "I want to congratulate you on returning to your homeland," Putin said, adding that they would be awarded state awards.

It is the first exchange between Russia and the West since US basketball star Brittney Griner returned home in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in December 2022. It is also the largest since 2010, when 14 people accused of espionage were freed, including double agent Sergei Skripal, who was sent to Britain by Moscow, and Russian spy Anna Chapman, who was sent to Russia by Washington.

Previously, major exchanges of more than a dozen prisoners only took place during the Cold War, when the Soviet Union and the West conducted exchanges in 1985 and 1986.

This prisoner exchange agreement is considered a significant diplomatic achievement for the Biden administration and a victory for President Putin.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ukraine-lo-lep-ve-sau-thoa-thuan-trao-doi-tu-nhan-giua-nga-va-phuong-tay-281268.html