Ukraine must fulfill political part of Minsk accords after ensuring security in Donbas - Volker
Ukraine will have to fulfill the political part of the obligations prescribed by the Minsk agreements after ensuring security in the eastern regions, U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker has said.
The Minsk agreements contain requirements for the Russian side: the withdrawal of heavy weapons, the restoration of control over the territories, the ceasefire and security. There are also requirements to Ukraine: a special status, holding local elections, and a limited amnesty for people who committed crimes during the conflict. And these things will be Ukraine's responsibility for implementation if conditions are created for Ukraine so that it will be able to do it, Volker said in an interview with the online publication Left Bank published on Tuesday.
Therefore, Ukraine should be ready to do this as well when there are peacekeeping forces and security is provided, the U.S. special envoy said.
According to him, there is close cooperation with the Ukrainian side. We are trying to become catalysts to promote the implementation of the Minsk agreements, which will lead to the restoration of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, Volker said.
The Ukrainian side insists that there must be a ceasefire regime, the removal of heavy weapons, and the restoration of security. And today we can take appropriate steps, including local elections, grant special status to the eastern territories, and also grant a limited amnesty to those people who committed crimes during the conflict. But all this should be done to ensure ceasefire preceded by security measures, he said.
The Russian side, he said, insists on the special status of Donbas, local elections and amnesty, which contradict the political side of the Minsk agreements, and at the same time accuses Ukraine of continuing the conflict. This is a circular argument leading nowhere, Volker said.
Minsk agreements were designed three years ago ... but nothing works. The concept of Russia is only the protection of the OSCE monitors ... and no issue on heavy weapons, the U.S. special envoy added.
According to him, the U.S. side proposes more substantial common peacekeeping forces that will be responsible for security in the region, as well as monitor and control all weapons in the region, as well as control of the entire length of the Ukrainian-Russian border by the Ukrainian side. This will create conditions when other aspects of the Minsk agreements will enter into force, he said.
The Ukrainian side, in turn, according to him, should worry more about the fate of its citizens living in uncontrolled territories. It is very important to remember that people in Donbas are Ukrainian citizens ... It is important that Ukraine will do everything possible so that these people know that they are worried about, Volker said.
