Dear friends,
The nationalist forces, which came to power in Ukraine in 2014, unleashed hostilities against the civilian population of Donbass, who did not support the anti-constitutional coup in Kiev.
You have been defending your right to freedom of thought, freedom of speech, mother tongue, historical and cultural heritage and to close ties with Russia under the conditions of the war, economic, transport and financial blockades all these years. By and large also the right to life!
You have defended and continue to defend your choice and the right to free and dignified development at the cost of strenuous efforts, sacrifices and losses, having undergone adversity and severe trials.
Russia has never stood aside from the pressing problems of the population of Donbass and has always strongly advocated and continues to advocate exclusively for the political resolution of the conflict in the East of Ukraine. Moreover, it is the Russian Federation that almost alone has been providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Donbass, sending food, medications, fuel and construction materials to the region.
As a mediator to the Contact Group on the settlement of the situation in Ukraine, the Russian Federation is working purposefully and will continue to do everything necessary to end the hostilities and reestablish peaceful life in Donbass. Our activity is based on the Minsk Agreements approved by the UN Security Council’s resolution, which do not allow anyone to decide the fate of Donbass without taking into account the will and interest of its population.
We are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory these days together! We have a common history and historical memory!
Happy holiday to you, dear friends!
I wish you fortitude and faith in the best, success in peaceful planning and actualization of hopes!
B.B. Gryzlov
Plenipotentiary Representative of the Russian Federation to the Contact Group on Resolution of the situation in Ukraine