Ukraine sets conditions for implementation of political block of Minsk agreements

The Ukrainian side to the Trilateral Contact Group on October 15, announced the conditions for implementation of the political block of the Minsk agreements on Donbas settlement.

This was reported by Darka Olifer, press secretary for Ukraine’s envoy to the TCG, ex-president Leonid Kuchma.

According to the speaker, during the meeting of the TCG socio-economic subgroup, the Ukrainian side once again raised the issue of the need  to have ORDLO (occupied areas of Donbas) stop using the Russian ruble and return seized Ukrainian state-owned and private property, restore tax payments to the Ukrainian state budget in strict accordance with Ukrainian legislation.

The Ukrainian side emphasized that the implementation of the political block of issues that are part of the Minsk agreements is possible only if the following conditions have been met:

the dissolution of “LNR/DPR” quasigroups and a complete ceasefire; ensuring effective monitoring by the OSCE SMM throughout Ukraine;

withdrawal from Ukraine of the armed groups, foreign troops and military equipment;

pullback of forces and assets along the entire line of contact;

ensuring the work of the Central Election Commission of Ukraine, Ukrainian political parties, media and foreign observers;

establishing of control over the Ukrainian-Russian border section now beyond Ukraine’s control;

implementation of other measures stipulated by Ukrainian and international legislation and the Minsk agreements.

In addition, the Ukrainian side at the TCG meeting in Minsk insists on implementation of security block of the Minsk agreements.

“Contrary to the Minsk agreements, the illegal armed formations continue to systematically violate the silence regime along the entire conflict line, including in the area of ​​the village of Zolote and Petrivske, where, in accordance with the 2016 TCG Framework Decision, a breeding of forces and assets should take place. The Ukrainian side clearly noted that such a withdrawal can only happen if the 7-day silence regime these areas. Despite the obligations fixed by the Minsk agreements, the illegal armed formations does not withdraw heavy artillery from the contact line, but place tanks and mortars instead,” Olifer emphasized.

As The Journalist reported, the militants disrupts breeding of forces in Zolote.