It is doubtless no accident that the rumours gaining momentum this week of an imminent release of Ukrainian political prisoners and POWs held in Russia coincided with the support expressed by US President Donald Trump for Russia to re-join the G7, and frustratingly vague statements from French President Emanuel Macron on this and related subjects. With only “progress on the situation in Ukraine” and “good will in deeds” demanded by Macron, why would Russian President Vladimir Putin not release a few political prisoners? Especially when Russia’s failure to comply with a binding order from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea [ITLOS] back on May 25 to release the 24 seamen was soon going to cause Moscow serious problems in any case.
Russia's War Against Ukraine
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Halya Coynash: No ‘G8’ until Russia ends occupation of Crimea
Russian Navy missile launcher ship Naberezhnye Chelny sails during a parade as part of the Navy Day celebration in Sevastopol, Crimea, on July 28, 2019.
