The withdrawal of Russian troops from areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions outside the Ukrainian government’s control is one of the priority measures necessary for the deployment of a UN peacekeeping mission to Donbas, US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker said.
At first, the parties should agree that the mission will be deployed and coordinate its mandate for the mission to begin operations, Volker said in an interview with the Hromadske TV channel. But Russia should withdraw its forces from Donbas, while Ukraine should coordinate with the United Nations, he said.
During last week’s conversations with the president, the government, and parliamentarians in Kyiv, Volker saw that there is common understanding that Ukraine should regain control over these territories, he said.
Observance of the Minsk Agreements is the only available way, he said. If both sides comply with the terms, Ukraine’s sovereignty will resume, which is the ultimate goal, Volker said.
He said he hopes it will be possible to force Russia to abandon consolidating in Donbas and withdraw its forces instead, giving way to peacekeepers.
Peacekeepers will aim to force the parties to implement the security provisions of the Minsk Agreements, Volker said.
He said he hopes the situation can be changed by the United States’ active involvement in a more extensive process and direct contacts with Russia, and a clear message that sanctions will not be lifted, and relations between Russia and the US will worsen until these issues are resolved.
A UN peacekeeping mission will not be discussed with representatives of the so-called Donbas republics, Volker said.
