Ukraine's ombudsman doubts "all for all" prisoner exchange in near future

Lubinets said this at a press conference, Ukrinform reports.

"Do I believe that there will be a big exchange in the near future? No, I don't. Let me explain why. The difference is in the numbers. Yes, it really exists. There are many more detained Ukrainian citizens on the territory of the Russian Federation. Do we discuss it? Yes. Do we discuss it with our partners? Yes. Do I see that our partners support our position? Yes. Do I see the Russian Federation's readiness to do so? No," Lubinets said.

The ombudsman added that the Russians are ready to conduct exchange processes, but he does not see "readiness to conduct quick large exchanges".

Lubinets also reminded that during the last exchange of civilians, five Ukrainians were returned to Ukraine from Belarus for the first time. The ombudsman noted that "at least some channel of communication" with the Belarusian side had appeared.

In addition, he spoke about the difference in the treatment of Ukrainian prisoners by Belarusians and Russians.

"That is, Ukrainian citizens from the territory of Belarus did not speak of any torture or beatings... Yes, we believe, legally, that they were illegally convicted, but there was no torture. They had more or less normal conditions of detention, they had normal food, it was even evident from their appearance," he said.

• On Tuesday, June 25, a prisoner exchange took place, during which Ukraine returned 90 more people from Russian captivity.
• In early May, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that an "all-for-all" prisoner exchange was possible until the end of the war.