(Bloomberg) Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky proposed exchanging a tycoon with close ties to the Kremlin who was detained by his country's security service by prisoners of war.
The offer came after Zelenski posted a photo on Facebook of Viktor Medvedchuk in handcuffs. Medvedchuk, a businessman and politician who is seen as one of President Vladimir Putin's main allies in Ukraine, was placed under house arrest last year and local authorities said he disappeared at the start of the Russian invasion.
“I offer the Russian Federation to exchange this boy of hers for our men and women who are now in Russian captivity,” Zelenski said in a video aimed at the nation released Wednesday morning. “It is therefore important that our law enforcement officials and the Army also consider this possibility.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov did not comment directly on Zelenski's offer in a conference call with journalists.
“Medvedchuk is not a Russian citizen. It has nothing to do with the special military operation, it is a foreign politician,” Peskov said. “We really don't know if he wants Russia's involvement in resolving this.”
Medvedchuk was a leader of the pro-Russian party that was banned after the invasion. After being charged last year on charges of high treason and financing of terrorism, Putin considered the case against him to be political in nature. Medvedchuk denies any wrongdoing.
Medvedchuk has been sanctioned by the United States since 2014 and its assets in Ukraine were frozen last year. Zelenski said he had been hiding for weeks before attempting to escape the country.
Original Note:
Zelenskiy Offers to Swap Putin Ally for Captive Ukrainians (1)
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