During the meeting that took place on October 29th in Minsk the Trilateral Contact Group agreed on the dates of disengagement in the Petrovskoye area in accordance with the previously approved implementation roadmap. DPR Plenipotentiary to the Minsk talks, Minister of Foreign Affairs Natalya Nikonorova commented on the forthcoming events.
“Two dates have been agreed upon in Minsk: November 4th — the start of practical deeds to eliminate violations in this area, which was disengaged back in 2016, and November 2nd — the start of preparatory activities (the sending of information to the OSCE SMM about the forces and means withdrawn and the next day, November 3rd, the sending of a notification about the readiness for disengagement).
Earlier today, the Ukrainian leadership also announced the agreed date, November 4th, despite the arrangement of the Contact Group not to disclose it. We hope that this is not just a special move by Ukraine, in the event of any failure, to cover itself up with traditional excuses about seven days of ceasefire and allegedly uncontrolled nationalists. As we can see from the example of Zolotoye, it has proved possible, if desired, to calm down radical armed groups and set the process of disengagement in motion.
On Monday of November 4th, we will see whether the forces take the President of Ukraine for their supreme commander-in-chief, since they must obey his orders.
Note that our readiness to fulfil the implementation roadmap has been confirmed repeatedly. The DPR People’s Militia forces still ready to resume their commitments for disengagement.
On November 2nd and 3rd, we send relevant notifications to the OSCE SMM, and on the fourth of November, at 13:00 (Moscow time, which equals 12:00 Eastern European time), as previously agreed, we launch a white signal rocket,” Nikonorova stated.