The Kremlin announced today, Thursday, that "no one at this stage can determine how the incident of downing a Russian transport plane carrying 65 Ukrainian soldiers, who were to be exchanged for Russian troops, will affect future prisoner exchanges." Interfax news agency quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying that "the downing of the plane was a brutal act and discussions about prisoner exchanges must remain confidential." He also stated, "No one can determine how this incident will affect the chances of extending the (exchange) process." Ukraine has not yet confirmed its downing of the Il-76 military transport plane that crashed near the Russian city of Belgorod, close to the Ukrainian border, yesterday, Wednesday, and has questioned parts of Russia's narrative regarding the incident. Additionally, the presence of Ukrainian prisoners on board the plane has not been confirmed.
Kremlin: Impact of Downing Russian Plane on Prisoner Exchanges Not Yet Clear
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