Once again, we have witnessed that the actions of the Ukrainian representatives to the Contact Group’s talks in Minsk and the representatives of the Ukrainian leadership are completely desynchronized, the DPR Representative Office to the JCCC and negotiation process stated.
“According to the official statement by OSCE coordinator for the Contact Group Mr. Martin Sajdik, on December 18, the parties to the conflict reaffirmed their commitment to the full and comprehensive implementation of the ceasefire, which was declared unlimited back on July 17 and backed up by all necessary measures to control and enhance it.
The members of the Contact Group were neither discussing nor agreeing upon nor announcing any new dates, new ceasefires or new conditions.
However, the Ukrainian defense minister has recently made a statement that the AFU are allegedly preparing for a total ceasefire starting January 1. In this regard, it becomes clear why the escalation has not lessened at the contact line after the coordinator’s statement on the parties’ commitment to the current ceasefire, because the AFU have continued to attack the territory of the Republic, including with the use of heavy equipment.
Thus, either the Ukrainian side, who are guided by logic only they understand, again unilaterally set a new date for themselves, thereby abandoning the current indefinite truce, or Ukraine’s defense minister has no handle on the matter in this situation.
It is to be hoped that the Ukrainian side will finally begin to fulfill its commitments to the full and comprehensive ceasefire and additional measures to control it, at least starting January 1 of the coming year,” the statement says.