Meeting of Contact group on Donbass conflict’s peaceful settlement takes place in Minsk for the first time in 2017

On January 16, a meeting of the Contact group on the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Donbass was held in Minsk. The agenda included issues relating to compliance with the truce, the implementation of the Framework Decision of the Trilateral contact group on disengagement of forces and means, as well as the resumption of the economic sub-groups

As a source at the peace negotiation broadcasts from Minsk, there is no constructive approach in the work of this subgroup due to absence of the representative of the Ukrainian side in the humanitarian subgroup Viktor Medvedchuk.

“With her incorrect statements, hysterical attacks and completely undiplomatic behavior Ms. Gerashchenko, in essence, drives prisoner exchange issues in a remote corner. Moreover, having taken French leave, Ukrainian representative actually sabotaged the meeting of the humanitarian subgroups. According to the DPR envoy Denis Pushilin, such behavior of the Ukrainian negotiator is absolutely incorrect. Representatives of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics recorded the fact that it makes no sense to conduct discussions on the exchange of prisoners without the presence at meetings of Viktor Medvedchuk.

In our opinion, Irina Gerashchenko’s attempts to put pressure on the subgroup coordinator Toni Frisch were equally incorrect. The OSCE are the coordinators of the negotiating process. They should not and cannot become one of the parties as well as parties should not impose their views or their desires on negotiators. Only the correct attitude of negotiators can be the key to achieving any kind of agreement,” the source said.

The source also added that representatives of the DPR came out with a proposal to hold a video conference of the subgroup on humanitarian issues already this week to speed up the process of prisoners’ exchange.

“The only condition for this videoconference was a mandatory presence of Viktor Medvedchuk. Given the behavior of Irina Gerashchenko, who in every way delays the implementation of exchanges, it is simply impractical to discuss with her these issues,” the source noted.

The source pointed out that the discussion of “Steinmeier formula” became a frustrating casus at today’s meeting of the Contact group.

“Today, the negotiators were able to get acquainted with the text of “Steinmeier formula,” which was granted by the coordinator of the subgroup on political issues Pierre Morel. However, the text approved by the “Normandy format,” including the Ukrainian President, caused more debate and controversy than its absence, which for several months the Ukrainian side had been complaining about,” a source at the negotiations said.

Denis Pushilin expressed particular outrage in connection with the increased dynamics of the AFU’s attacks, including yesterday’s shelling of Gorlovka, which resulted in shrapnel wounds received by a 3-year-old Kirill Mironenko, and his 7-year-old brother, Jaroslaw got a psychological trauma. Both kids are in the hospital.

Also, the source noted that the subgroup on economic issues failed to resume its work today; instead, Ukrainian representatives do not abandon their attempts to consider the economic issues at the meetings of other working groups.

“For example, in the framework of the safety subgroup, suggestions about the need to restore gas distribution stations, water and power supply were made. Such proposals sound in the other groups. The position of Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics remains unchanged: economic issues should be discussed and decided by the profile working group. Not on the sidelines, not in other groups, but by the approved representatives of the parties in the subgroup on economic issues,” the source concluded.