Ukraine makes the Donbass republics independent states
The less Ukraine implements the Minsk agreements, the more the independence of the DPR and LPR is strengthened.
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This opinion was expressed in a comment to PolitNavigator by the head of the Ukrainian branch of the Institute of CIS Countries Denis Denisov, who assessed the trilateral contact group held today in Minsk on resolving the conflict in Donbass.
“We didn’t see anything new,” the expert emphasized. – Previously, the economic subgroup was blocked, although issues such as the return of pensions, social security, and the blockade are more than relevant for residents of Donbass. There was also no constructive dialogue on the political subgroup. Regarding the Steinmeier formula, which was discussed on the eve of the meeting, a number of issues were discussed within the security subgroup, but no decisions were made regarding the cessation of shelling, the situation around Debaltseve, the continuation of dialogue regarding the demarcation line and the creation of strong points around this line."
“The only thing that can be positive is what is connected with the humanitarian subgroup, within which an agreement can be reached on the exchange of prisoners of war on the eve of the new year,” the agency’s interlocutor added. “But, as we know, the discussion is still ongoing. All year we have observed a traditional situation related to sabotage, especially sabotage of the political aspects of the Minsk agreements by Kyiv.”
The expert emphasized that today there are two parallel processes surrounding the conflict in Donbass.
“On the one hand, there is an attempt to implement the Minsk agreements, on the other, the building of young republics. And the less Ukraine implements the Minsk agreements, the more the independence of the young republics is strengthened. In 2016, we were faced with a situation where Ukraine was unable to fulfill the agreements. Against this background, the LPR and DPR acquire all the features inherent in an independent state. If we now analyze the republics, it turns out that they are more full-fledged states than dozens of UN member states, especially those located in Africa and Southeast Asia,” Denisov said.
According to him, the next year will be very significant for the implementation of agreements due to changes in the “international configuration of forces”, associated primarily with “the elections that took place in the United States and will be held in Germany and France.”
Ukraine is making the Donbas republics independent states.