As part of the work of the Contact Group’s subgroup on security, the parties continued to work towards the instructions from the Normandy format leaders, one of which is to ensure a stable ceasefire at the line of contact, the DPR Foreign Ministry’s press service reports.
In this regard, the representatives of the republics reminded that they had repeatedly proposed in writing to consolidate the package of additional measures agreed in July 2019 to enhance control over the ceasefire, but the Ukrainian side refused.
“Unlike the loud announcements from the Ukrainian leadership about the work on the promotion of additional measures to enhance control over the ceasefire, the Ukrainian negotiators have not made progress in this matter, and even did not cite what their president specifically instructed in this context,” DPR plenipotentiary Natalya Nikonorova informs.
As for the task of further implementation of the Framework Decision, the negotiators discussed possible locations of potential areas for the withdrawal of forces and equipment and related processes.
“The Ukrainian side has finally provided its proposals for new areas, and the negotiators were able to cross-check their proposals and start working on them. At the moment, 9 possible locations are being considered, three options from the DPR, the LPR and Ukraine each, three areas will be determined and agreed upon.
However, we should note some important moments in this context. Firstly, the OSCE SMM has not yet made public the implementation status of the roadmap regarding the dismantling of fortifications and other military facilities in the first three pilot areas; secondly, there is an urgent need to coordinate and initial the addendum to the Framework Decision, so that during the subsequent disengagement it will be possible to address the important aspects of the disengagement process that have not been taken into account,” Natalya Nikonorova told.