Merkel called the promising sign of the exchange between Moscow and Kiev

“This exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine is a promising sign,” said a statement released by German Cabinet representative Steffen Seibert.

She added that she was glad "for the Ukrainian sailors and Oleg Sentsov, who now can finally go home."

Earlier, the special board of the Rossiya detachment, which flew out of Kiev as part of the exchange of retained persons between Ukraine and Russia, landed in Moscow.

Also, a special board with returning citizens of Ukraine landed at the Boryspil airport.

The Kremlin called the exchange between Russia and Ukraine held. As the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, noted, “it is necessary to maintain this attitude to solve problems, rather than aggravate them.”