Ukraine, pro-Russia separatists complete prisoner swap

By Ali Cura

KIEV, Ukraine (AA) – A prisoner swap between the Ukraine government and the pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine was completed on Sunday, according to a presidential statement.

"Prisoner swap is completed. 76 persons are in safe in Ukraine-controlled territory," the Ukraine presidency announced on Twitter.

Meanwhile, the Kiev administration released 124 pro-Russian separatists, according to Russian media citing separatists sources.

On Dec. 9, the leaders of the Normandy Four countries -- Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine -- met in Paris and the parties to the conflict agreed to a full exchange of prisoners of war before the end of December.

Russia and Ukraine have been at loggerheads since 2014, when Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula after a controversial referendum.

Turkey as well as the UN General Assembly view the annexation as illegal.

Ukraine also blames the Kremlin for separatist violence in Donbass, a region in eastern Ukraine that borders Russia.