
Igor Plotnitsky (L) and Aleksandr Zakharchenko (R). Photo by Oksana Manchuk/BelTA/TASS
For the first time in more than three years of war, President Vladimir Putin spoke directly by telephone to the two leaders of the self-declared "People's Republics" of Donetsk and Lugansk, RBC reported.
Viktor Medvedchuk, a Ukrainian oligarch, former head of the Ukrainian presidential administration under Leonid Kuchma, and head of the pro-Russian political organization Ukrainian Choice proposed to Putin to personally intervene to ensure a widescale exchange of POWs before the New Year's holiday.
Medvedchuk was named special representative of Ukraine on humanitarian issues in the Trilateral Contact group to resolve the conflict in the Donbass.
Putin met privately in August 2017 with Medvedchuk - -- who is godfather of his daughter -- to discuss the Minsk agreements and again November 15 during Putin's visit to New Jerusalem Monastery in Istra, Moscow Region.
Putin told Medvedchuk (translation by The Interpreter)
"I will do everything that depends on me, I will speak with the leadership of both the Donetsk Republic and Lugansk republic. I hope that what you propose will be implemented, and as soon as possible."
She also noted that the separatists were clocking the Zolotoye checkpoint in Lugansk Region, although they had promised to remove the blockade in October. After the latest talks, they said the checkpoint would open up only after heavy armor had been removed from Stanitsa Luganskaya -- a town they shell daily, she noted.
On the front line, Sergei Shakun, head of Popasnyaya District Regional Administration said Ukrainian soldiers wounded a 64-year-old woman who resided in the area.
The chief physician of Dnepropetrovsk Regional Hospital said the woman was brought for treatment of a gunshot wound that occurred November 13 when Ukrainian soldiers came into the woman's home and shot her, causing extensive stomach, leg and buttock wounds.
The ATO said they had detained soldiers responsible for injuring a civilian but had no further details.
-- Catherine A. Fitzpatrick