There is a good chance that 24 Ukrainian sailors will be released from Russian custody before July 21. This is because Russian leader Vladimir Putin will have to live up to the decision of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea by that date and bring the sailors back to Ukraine. Petro Poroshenko, the fifth president of Ukraine and the leader of European Solidarity party said this in his interview with ICTV channel.
"Putin clearly understands the consequences for Russia, because there are quite clear mechanisms, including those concerning limitations for the maritime traffic for Russian vessels, and the responnsibility for not living up to ITLOS's decision. So, there's 90-percent chance that by July 21, our guys will be home", the politician said.
24 Ukrainian sailors were captured in Kerch Strait near the Russian-occupeid Crimea in November 2018. They were brought to Russia under charges with "illegal crossing of Russia's territorial waters" and have been held in custody ever since.
