Russian President Vladimir Putin is interested in the future presence of Russian troops in Ukraine, so instead of a true UN peacekeeping force in the Donbas he offers a mission to escort international observers, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said.
“We are striving for a true UN peacekeeping mission that provides for the deployment of international contingents throughout the combat zone as a precondition for a ceasefire, ensuring the political process and holding free local elections in the Donbas,” Poroshenko wrote on his Facebook page on Monday.
At the same time, according to him, Putin offers a mission escorting international observers.
“Instead, Putin offers an escort mission for international observers. This is something quite different. It is important for Putin to maintain the presence of Russian troops in Ukraine, which he officially denies, and that the Russian border remains open for the possibility of supplying reinforcements. Such a mission is misleading,” Poroshenko said.
