Kiev and Moscow agree to allow trucks to return to their countries of origin
Over the next 10 days, more than 600 Ukrainian and just as many Russian truck drivers will be able to return home. This is detailed in the framework of the aptly named deal, “going home”.
On the 16th of February, Moscow and Kiev agreed on a procedure that will allow the blocked trucks to return home. According to the agreement reached by the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine and the Ministry of Transport of Russia, the plan will be in force from the 16th to the 25th of February.
Kiev has also called on "social activists to not impede the movement of trucks to Russia over the next 10 days" in order for "Ukrainian drivers to be able to freely return to Ukraine." According to various sources, over the past week, more than 350 Ukrainian trucks were stopped on the territory of the Russian Federation. Also, more than 300 vehicles are in Asia, waiting to return to Ukraine via Russia.
Ukrainian activists have previously stopped dozens of trucks. More than 500 vehicles have amassed on the western border of Ukraine, waiting to return to Russia. According to the Interfax news agency, in the framework of the "going home" deal, the first batch of Ukrainian trucks has been allowed to leave the territory of the Bryansk region.
The social movement organized by Ukrainian activists to block Russian trucks had gained support in 10 regions of Ukraine by the 11th of February. In response, Russia had suspended the movement of Ukrainian freight vehicles, and later their transit. Ukraine also officially suspended the transit of Russian trucks.