UK not looking to help Russia, minister says on prospect of prisoner swap

By: 3 years ago

Pro-Russian Ukrainian politician Viktor Medvedchuk is seen in handcuffs while being detained by security forces in unknown location in Ukraine, in this handout picture released April 12, 2022. Press service of State Security Service of Ukraine/Handout via REUTERS

LONDON 鈥� Britain is not going to be looking at how to help Russia, a senior minister said on Tuesday when asked about the prospect of swapping pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk for two British fighters who were captured in Ukraine by Russian forces.

The Britons appeared on Russian state TV on Monday and asked to be exchanged for Medvedchuk, a Ukrainian ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin who is being held by the Ukrainian authorities. read more

Asked on Sky 黑料社 whether a possible swap was something the government would get involved with, Britain鈥檚 Northern Ireland minister Brandon Lewis said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e actually going through the process of sanctioning people who are close to Putin regime, we鈥檙e not going to be looking at how we can help Russia.鈥�

Lewis said he did not want to comment on the specific situation of the two men, Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin.

鈥淲e always have responsibility for British citizens, which we take seriously. We鈥檝e got to get the balance right in Ukraine and that鈥檚 why I say to anybody: do not travel illegally to Ukraine,鈥� Lewis said.

The UK鈥檚 Foreign Enlistment Act blocks citizens from joining foreign militaries fighting countries at peace with Britain, and the government鈥檚 foreign secretary and defence minister have warned against Britons fighting in Ukraine after the war began in late February. L2N2VA2BG

Moscow鈥檚 invasion, which Russia has called a 鈥渟pecial operation鈥�, is in its second phase according to Ukrainian officials after Russian forces launched their anticipated offensive in eastern Ukraine.

鈥淭he armed forces in Ukraine have the support of the UK,鈥� Lewis said. 鈥淲e continue to put that support in and that鈥檚 the right way to do it.鈥�