Ukraine in Minsk once again ignored all peace initiatives
Today was the last meeting of this year of the Contact Group on security issues at the negotiations in Minsk. The situation has remained at the same level: the Ukrainian side persistently ignores all peace initiatives, thereby sabotaging the implementation of previously concluded agreements.
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This information was reported by the press service of the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
Thus, the main focus of the meeting was work on the draft statement of the Contact Group regarding the parties’ commitment to a regime of silence on the eve of the New Year holidays.
“Due to the obvious escalation of the situation, such agreements are of a priority nature, but the main thing is that the Ukrainian side has the will to demonstrate its commitment in practice,” the press service says.
The republics insisted on the need to implement additional mechanisms to control violations of the truce. On the part of the Donetsk People's Republic, all these agreements are being implemented: the necessary orders have been issued and published, special working groups have been created and are functioning from among the command staff of the DPR Armed Forces, whose task is to monitor compliance with the ceasefire and promptly respond to all violations.
“According to the DPR representative office in the JCCC, since the announcement of the “school” truce, as of December 5, 2017, the Ukrainian side has violated the ceasefire 3 times, including by opening fire from artillery multiple launch rocket systems, mortars and tank guns, which should were withdrawn in accordance with the Minsk agreements,” the statement said.
The escalation of the situation is due to the fact that the Ukrainian side persistently ignores the implementation of agreements on additional mechanisms to maintain the truce: orders are not published, violations recorded by the Mission remain unattended, investigations are not conducted or made public.
A reinforcing factor for escalation on the part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is the withdrawal of representatives of the Russian Armed Forces to the JCCC:
“In this matter, we note that the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is ready to consider the issue of returning its representatives to the JCCC in the event of a regulatory settlement of all problematic issues and regulation of the activities of the joint Center itself,” reported in Minsk.
At the last meeting, Ambassador Apakan instructed the parties to carry out mine action and clearance in the areas adjacent to the checkpoints. The parties reported that all necessary measures had been completed - now the OSCE SMM will have to verify this information.
The problematic issue of disengagement of forces and assets at site No. 1 “Stanitsa Luganskaya” also remained without progress. The Ukrainian side proposed another date – December 28, citing violations that were not reflected in the Mission’s reports.
Ukraine once again ignored all peace initiatives in Minsk.