More than five years have passed since the Minsk Agreements were signed, and the process of negotiating issues related to their legal implementation was launched. During this period, neither of the paragraphs provided in the Package of Measures has been fully implemented by Ukraine. But though we managed to find at least some common ground on certain issues, Kiev officials consistently ignored the issues of a political settlement of the conflict. And I should remind that it is precisely the implementation of the Measures Package’s political paragraphs that the long-term and stable resumption of peace in Donbass depends on.
The fact that the Contact Group meeting, which took place the day before, was attended by representatives of the functioning Ukrainian and Russian establishment, cannot but inspire hope for a new impactful round of negotiations. Indeed, it was through the extended meeting that we were able to get decisions and instructions protocolized for the first time. And if Ukraine does not balk at flimsy obstacles once again, in the future we will already be able to count on specific actions on their part.
As for the announced possible emergence of a venue for a dialogue between Donbass and Kiev, I should note that we have long stated the need for such a solution.
This has been confirmed by our repeated statements of readiness to conduct direct negotiations with Ukraine. Only such a format can contribute to the most expeditious, effective and coordinated resolution of the conflict.
Denis Pushilin,
Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic