Any steps to resolve the conflict in Donbass must be discussed with representatives of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics in the first place. This is one of the key items of the Minsk Agreements, the same position has been repeatedly stated by the Normandy Format participants, DPR People’s Council deputy Alexander Kamyshov said today, January 13.
The deputy recalled that shortly before, on January 11, 2020, President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky and President of France Emmanuel Macron in a telephone conversation expressed their intention to continue bilateral dialogue to normalize the situation in Donbass. The heads of state also agreed to hold a telephone conversation in the Ukraine—France—Germany format.
“If Zelensky is truly interested in normalizing the situation, he should, first and foremost to respect his commitments taken in the course of the Paris Summit of the Normandy Four last December. The seriousness of his intentions could be evidenced by steps aimed at ensuring the implementation of the very first paragraph of the meeting’s final communiqué — a complete and comprehensive ceasefire, but so far the most striking evidence of the Ukrainian President’s true position remains the fact that the parties have failed to reach an agreement even upon the traditional “New Year’s truce” for the first time since the conflict’s outset. The daily shelling of the DPR and LPR territories continues.
Therefore, we are skeptical of any peacemaking initiatives of Vladimir Zelensky. Until Ukraine begins to respect its commitments and launches a direct dialogue with the people of Donbass, any statements made by Kiev officials will remain nothing more than populist and empty statements. Unfortunately, no prerequisites for real actions aimed at resolving the conflict have yet been observed,” Alexander Kamyshov said.