Prisoner swaps between the conflicting parties have been suspended, and Ukraine needs to form a special entity to address these issues, former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma said.

"Prisoner swaps have been suspended. In fact, there is not a single governmental team to deal with this important humanitarian problem," Kuchma told reporters in Kyiv on Monday.

The issues are being addressed by volunteers only, he added.

As to whether this is Ukraine's fault, Kuchma said, "I cannot say so because the other side does not have such desire. I would like the country to create an entity which will address these problems and incorporate working groups," said Kuchma, the negotiator for Kyiv in the Trilateral Contact Group.