Kremlin against swapping Putin’s ally Medvedchuk for Ukrainian captives

The Kremlin “does not see the possibility” to swap Vladimir Putin’s closest ally in Ukraine, the oligarch and opposition politician Viktor Medvedchuk, for Ukrainian captives, Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated today.

 

He noted that it was unknown for Russian authorities whether Medvedchuk, who was arrested yesterday, wanted the exchange or not.

 

President Volodymyr Zelensky raised the offer yesterday, shortly after the oligarch was arrested on treason charges, escaping home arrest.

 

Zelensky himself posted his photo in handcuffs and dressed in army fatigues with a Ukrainian flag patch.

 

“If Medvedchuk himself chose to wear the military uniform,  it means that he is subject to the rules of war. I propose to the Russian Federation: exchange  your boy for our boys and girls who are now in captivity. It is important that our law enforcement agencies and the military consider this possibility,” Zelensky said.

 

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.

 

Hostilities have been in progress since then.