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France’s foreign minister on Saturday welcomed a breakthrough prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine, while urging “concrete new advances” by each side to end their five-year conflict.
“It’s a gesture that demonstrates the willingness of Russia and Ukraine to renew their dialogue,” Jean-Yves Le Drian said in a statement.
“France, alongside Germany, will support efforts by both sides with the aim of making concrete new advances in the coming weeks,” he said.
Le Drian and French Defence Minister Florence Parly head to Moscow on Monday for the first high-level “2+2” talks with their Russian counterparts since Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
“The Ukraine conflict will be at the heart of the agenda for the French-Russia cooperation council on security issues,” he said in the statement.
“The priorities range from consolidating the cease-fire to the withdrawal of heavy weapons, mine clearance, and urgent humanitarian measures for the people of Donbass,” he said.
Le Drian also called for fresh efforts to implement the 2015 Minsk ceasefire deal, “in order to secure the liberation of all prisoners taken in this conflict.”