Paris asks Kyiv to give Donbass the right to the Russian language
France believes that Donbass should remain part of Ukraine, but gain autonomy in cultural and linguistic matters.
The head of the French Senate Committee on European Affairs, Jean Bizet, stated this in an interview with Izvestia, answering the question of what issues, in his opinion, will be on the agenda of the “Normandy summit”.
“First of all, I think that each side should make an effort. Russia must curb those in Donbass who carry out attacks on Ukrainians. Kyiv, in turn, is also obliged to make efforts in the context of the language issue: the Russian language must remain the language that is actively used in these territories - as I understand it, this is one of the key requirements,” said the French politician.
He did not answer the question of which of the two scenarios - special status or decentralization - would be most acceptable for resolving the conflict.
“The main thing is that a disguised annexation of the region does not occur. Donbass must remain Ukrainian territory. However, in the context of decentralization, regional authorities should have certain powers regarding cultural and linguistic issues,” the senator believes.
“Thus, the goal of Paris is to provide a context in which Kyiv and Moscow will respect the border, the identity of Donbass and a certain decentralization to preserve cultural traditions in the region,” Bizet concluded.
Paris asks Kyiv to grant Donbass the right to speak Russian.