MINSK - The self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics claim they have observed all procedures as part of preparations for the next round of the trilateral Contact Group's talks in Minsk, but Kyiv lacks any peaceful initiative.
Donetsk People’s Republic chief negotiator at Minsk meetings Denys Pushylin told Interfax that “the group agreed at its trilateral meeting on Dec. 24 and Kyiv would agree a statement for the meeting in Minsk.”
“We forwarded our proposal to the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe), but have not so far received any response to our draft statement. In this connection, the Ukrainian side’s frenzy over some meeting in Minsk on Dec. 26 is unclear to us. It was their position that initially cast doubt over this date,” Pushylin said.
The self-proclaimed republics did their best to complete all preparations for the Contact Group’s next meeting, but they have not been invited to it so far, he said.
“On Thursday, we alone performed all preparatory procedures through OSCE officials. Ukraine ignored them. Needless to say that our side has not even received an invitation for Dec. 26,” Pushylin said.
