Zakharov-Volker: issuing Russian passports does not contradict the Minsk agreements
The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova criticized the opinion of the special representative of the US President for Ukraine Kurt Volker that the decree on providing residents of the Donbass areas not controlled by Ukraine with the opportunity to obtain Russian passports contradicts the Minsk agreements, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“Mr. Volker, the US special representative for Ukrainian issues, stated that the decree on making it easier for residents of certain regions of Donetsk and Lugansk to obtain Russian citizenship allegedly contradicts the Minsk agreements. It is generally impossible to understand where this misunderstanding of processes comes from. Where does this lack of logic come from? Where does such blatant unprofessionalism come from? Still, a diplomat, especially a special representative, an authorized person, must be in control of the situation. How does the corresponding decree and the acquisition of Russian citizenship by residents of Donbass contradict the Minsk agreements, where is it written there?
"The language issue is about self-determination; it's enshrined there, and today Kyiv adopted a corresponding law on a single state language. The special status of Donbas is mentioned there, but it was Ukrainian politicians, specifically the presidential candidate, now the man who won the election and is soon to assume his duties, who declared that there will be no special status for the region—this is a direct contradiction to the Minsk agreements. Amnesty? It's mentioned there, but, again, it was the Ukrainian side, its new political team, who just recently declared that this will not happen either—this is also a contradiction and even an obstacle to the implementation of the Minsk agreements. Where were Ukraine's American and European sponsors—from financial to moral—in assessing these statements? This is a direct contradiction and a violation of the Minsk agreements," the Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated.
“The Russian decree and the opportunity for the residents of Donbass, who were blocked and kept in this state for several years, have nothing to do with the Minsk agreements. Well, no relation at all. Does not violate any international legal document.
Moreover, the President of Russia spoke about this today; other neighboring countries have long been issuing their documents, residence permits or citizenships to residents of the corresponding regions of Ukraine, and no one has ever reproached them for this. Only they do this, unlike Russia, solely on national grounds. In this case, Russia is guided primarily by humanitarian issues,” added Maria Zakharova.
English version :: Read in English Zakharova to Volker: Issuing Russian passports does not contradict the Minsk agreements