Ukraine’s Ombudsman Defends Handshake with Russian Counterpart as a Calculated Move for Prisoner Returns.

Meeting Between Dmytro Lubinets and Yana Lantratova

According to Novyny.live: Ukraine’s parliamentary human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, has described his handshake with Russian ombudswoman Yana Lantratova as a deliberate step within efforts to bring Ukrainians home from captivity. He stressed that the gesture is part of a broader mechanism to protect the rights of Ukrainian citizens. Speaking at a press conference on July 1, Lubinets made clear that any future public meetings with Lantratova will only take place if they produce tangible outcomes from negotiations.

Lubinets met with the Russian ombudswoman as part of prisoner-of-war exchange procedures. Notably, Ukraine recently secured the release of seven more civilians who had been detained by Russia since 2022. In his remarks, Lubinets emphasized that the return of all Ukrainians—including prisoners of war, civilians, hostages, and children—remains the top priority for every branch of Ukraine’s government.

'I want to state again publicly today that this was my deliberate stance,' Lubinets said, underlining the significance of these actions.

He also highlighted the undeniable and critical role of international partners in the repatriation process. As such, Ukrainian authorities continue to keep the issue of bringing citizens home at the forefront of their agenda. Lubinets pledged that any engagement with the Russian side will proceed only when it yields concrete results.

Ukraine’s Diplomatic Efforts

This statement by Lubinets underscores the importance of Ukraine’s diplomatic initiatives in securing the return of its citizens who find themselves in difficult circumstances. The experience gained from such negotiations could shape future strategies regarding hostage exchanges and points to the need for a systematic approach to protecting Ukrainians’ rights. Even amid conflict, interaction with the Russian side demonstrates Ukraine’s determination to ensure the safety of its people under any conditions.