Ukraine, Russia swap PoWs as Brazil backs ‘peace group’
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More than 100 Ukrainian prisoners of war have been released as part of a major Easter exchange with Russia as Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva again proposed establishing a group of countries not involved with the war to broker peace.
While Orthodox Easter celebrations on Sunday were subdued because of security risks, with a curfew barring the faithful from customary all-night services, Ukrainian authorities and ordinary people shared messages of hope, linking the story of Jesus’ resurrection to their longing for peace and a Ukrainian victory.
Dozens of families had special reasons to rejoice, as presidential adviser Andriy Yermak announced that 130 soldiers, sailors, border guards and others captured by Russian forces were on their way back home following a “big Easter prisoner exchange”.
Yermak said in a Telegram post on Sunday that those released included troops who fought near Bakhmut, the eastern mining city which has for months been the focus of Russia’s grinding offensive.
“The lives of our people are the highest value for us,” Yermak said, adding that Ukraine’s goal was to bring back all remaining PoWs.
There was no immediate information on how many Russian prisoners were released but the press service of the founder of the Wagner Group, the Kremlin-affiliated paramilitary force whose fighters are prominent in eastern Ukraine, also released a video on Sunday showing Ukrainian prisoners of war being readied for an exchange.
In his Easter address released on Sunday morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described the holiday as marking “the victory of good, the victory of truth, the victory of life,” and he stressed what he said was Ukrainian unity in the face of Russian aggression.
“Belief in victory unites all of us always, and especially today. At Easter, which from time immemorial has been a family holiday for Ukrainians, a day of warmth, hope and great unity. We are one big family – Ukrainians. We have one big home -Ukraine. We have one big goal – victory for all,” Zelenskiy said.
In Kyiv, people gathered in the courtyard of the landmark St Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery on Sunday morning to have their Easter eggs and baskets of food blessed by a priest.
A curfew had prevented most from attending the traditional all-night service there hours earlier, with many tuning into a live stream instead.
Brazil’s president said on Sunday he had discussed the idea of a “peace group” with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping earlier this week.
“I think we need to sit on a table and say, ‘that’s enough, let’s start talking’ because war never brought and will never bring any benefit to humanity,” said Lula, who has been critical of the United States and the European Union for their role in the conflict.
The Brazilian president told reporters in Abu Dhabi that he was trying to gather a group of leaders that “prefer to talk about peace rather than war”.
He cited Xi and the president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, both of whom he met this week.
Lula had previously said the group should gather countries not “encouraging” war, adding that countries that are supplying weapons should be convinced to stop doing so.
The US and the EU have been providing Ukraine with weapons and other support since Russia invaded the neighbouring country more than a year ago.
Germany earlier this year reportedly asked Brazil to supply arms as well but Lula refused.
Lula repeated that the decision to start war was “made by two countries,” appearing to also place some blame on Ukraine, and added that ending it will be harder as more countries would need to be persuaded.
“We are trying to form a group of countries that have no kind of involvement with the war to talk to Russia and Ukraine but also the US and EU, to convince people that peace is the best way to establish a process of conversation,” Lula said.
with AP
Reuters
