The ‘Minsk format’ of settlement in Donbas cannot be considered exhausted, because it is necessary to conclude agreements similar to the Minsk ones in any other format, Ukraine’s representative in the Trilateral Contact Group’s political subgroup Olha Aivazovska said.
“Other formats [of talks on settlement of the situation in Donbas], which could work, have not been created. And assuming they are set up, the content of the agreements which we would have will not likely differ [from the Minsk Agreements], at least in the first clauses, which concern security,” she told reporters in Kyiv on Jan. 12.
Due to this, the Minsk format cannot be considered exhausted, Aivazovska said.
“The Minsk format has not exhausted itself because any new agreement will begin with the same first clauses which are stipulated in the Minsk Agreements,” she said.
The time spent for arranging another venue for the talks, if at the same time the Minsk format is abandoned, will play against Ukraine, Aivazovska said.
Meanwhile, Russia is interested in the Minsk format being downplayed, Aivazovska said.
The Trilateral Contact Group’s political subgroup will meet on Jan. 16 she said.
