Ukraine rivals to swap prisoners today

Ukrainian authorities and pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country have agreed to swap dozens of prisoners yesterday, the self-declared rebel republic of Donetsk said. Both sides had said earlier this month they would carry out a prisoner exchange by the end of the year, following high-profile peace talks in Paris aimed at de-escalating Europe’s only active war. Sources said two separatist territories Donetsk and Lugansk will get 87 prisoners, while 55 others will be handed over to Kiev, without giving details on the identity of those involved. The swap would come three months after Ukraine carried out a long-awaited exchange with Russia of 35 prisoners each.