U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker said that the Minsk agreements do not provide for Donbas autonomy, but Ukraine needs to implement a special procedure for exercising local self-government in certain areas of Donbas.
In particular, he was asked what is the ‘red line’ for the United States in order to continue support for Ukraine and preserve sanctions against the Russian Federation.
“I think the most important red line is to continue efforts on implementing the Minsk agreements,” UNIAN quoted Volker, as saying.
The American diplomat recalled the need to establish a sustainable ceasefire, withdraw the Russian military forces (that are still there) from the occupied Donbas, eliminate illegal armed groups, create appropriate security conditions for the Donbas residents and further implement the political provisions of the Minsk agreements.
“Any cases that will concern recognition of the seizure of this territory by Russia or in some way the ‘independence’ of the territory will contradict to Minsk agreements. Autonomy is not part of the Minsk agreements, but a special status [a special local government in certain areas of Donbas – ed.], which still needs to be implemented, but this is not about autonomy,” Volker emphasized.
In addition, Volker is looking forward to the resumption of negotiations with the Russian Federation on the settlement of the situation in Donbas after the elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Volker noted that he would like to resume negotiations with the Russian side.
As The Journalist reported, the presidential diplomatic advisors decide the future of the Minsk talks in Berlin.
Подписывайтесь на telegram-канал journalist.today
