In an interview with FRANCE 24, former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko expressed concern over the fate of the Ukrainian soldiers evacuated from the besieged Azovstal steel plant in the eastern city of Mariupol, saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin should "never" be trusted. Ukrainian authorities say the fighters have been taken to areas under the control of Russian forces or pro-Russian rebels and will be exchanged at a later date for Russian prisoners.
Speaking to FRANCE 24 from Kyiv, Ukraine's former president Petro Poroshenko (2014–2019) said he was concerned over the fate of the Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. While hailing the fighters as heroes, he said his experience in dealing with Vladimir Putin had taught him never to trust the Russian leader. Poroshenko said that during his own mandate, several Ukrainians held in Russia had not been released, despite promises from Putin. He added that he hoped the Ukrainian negotiators had obtained guarantees that the prisoners would not be prosecuted or jailed in Russia.
