KIEV, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- The rival parties in eastern Ukraine conflict said Wednesday they have failed to agree on a formula for the exchange of hostages at the latest meeting of the three-party Contact Group on Ukraine crisis.
Irina Gerashchenko, a representative of the Ukrainian government in the humanitarian subgroup of the Contact Group, said Kiev has offered to free 228 supporters of pro-independence insurgents in exchange for 42 Ukrainians, but rebels have rejected the proposal.
According to her, Donetsk representatives are willing to hand over 8 Ukrainians to the government forces in exchange for 228 rebel supporters, while Lugansk insurgents are seeking a prisoner exchange under the "6-for-440" formula.
"The negotiations are very difficult, but we have to search a compromise," Gerashchenko said.
Meanwhile, Daria Morozova, a Donetsk representative said that Donetsk and Lugansk are seeking an "all-for-all" prisoner exchange.
"Official Kiev did not give any response to our proposal for an exchange," Morozova said, without specifying the number of captives held by insurgents.
The prisoner swap is a key part of the Minsk ceasefire agreement designed to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine that has killed some 10,000 people since April 2014.
