IIn a brief ceremony, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj celebrated the return of some soldiers from Russian captivity. “It was a special day in a special week,” he said in his daily video address on Friday evening. At the same time he announced that he would bring back more soldiers from Russian prison camps. “We will not leave a single Ukrainian in Russian prisons, camps and ‘isolations’ (detention centers). We think of everyone.”
Zelenskyj had presented medals to a number of former prisoners of war in Kyiv in the afternoon. In the past few days, Russia and Ukraine have exchanged prisoners of war several times. According to Zelenskyy, a total of 1,331 Ukrainian soldiers have been released from Russian captivity in this way since the beginning of the war in February. Meanwhile, Kyiv continues to seek a special tribunal to try Russian war crimes.
“As long as the fighting continues, as long as our heroes die in the trenches and as long as even one prisoner is in the hands of the enemy – this war is not over for me, and certainly for any of you,” he said, according to the Presidential Chancellery during the Ceremony. Saturday marks the 283rd day of Russia’s war of aggression against its neighboring country.
Special tribunal efforts continue
The efforts of the Ukrainian leadership to set up a special tribunal to prosecute Russian war crimes with Western support are continuing, Zelensky said. Work will continue to gain a “critical mass” of supporters to form this tribunal. According to Kiev’s ideas, it should be based on the model of the Nuremberg tribunal. While the Nazis were held accountable in Nuremberg, according to Kyiv, the political and military leadership of Russia for the war of aggression against the Ukraine is to be held accountable at this special tribunal.
“London, Paris, Berlin, Warsaw and other capitals – we are strengthening our position everywhere and gathering the support of our partners,” said Zelenskyy on Friday evening. “I’m sure there will be a tribunal, there will be justice.”
EU, G7 and Australia want to cap prices for Russian oil
The seven leading democratic economic powers (G7) and Australia want to implement a price cap for oil from Russia in consultation with the European Union. This was announced by the G7 and Australia on Saturday night. The states want to force Russia to sell oil below the market price to buyers in other states. The agreement reached on Friday provides for an initial price cap of USD 60 per barrel. If possible, the price should apply from Monday. In addition to Germany, the G7 also includes the USA, Canada, France, Great Britain, Italy and Japan. Germany currently chairs the group. Government representatives of the EU had previously reached a corresponding agreement on Friday.