Russia blackmails with “irreparable consequences” in the event of a change in the Minsk format

Borys Gryzlov, Russia’s representative at a UN Security Council meeting, said Ukraine’s attempts to change the format of the Minsk talks could have “irreparable consequences”.

With these words, the Russian official reacted to the statement of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who suggested that Plan B and C could be used to resolve the situation in Donbas.

“Any attempts by Kyiv to change the Minsk agreements, in particular as regards the order of implementation of measures, could lead to irreparable consequences.

Russia will continue to pursue a priority on the solution of political issues, on the consistent implementation of the measures provided for in the Minsk agreements, which were approved by a UN Security Council resolution,” Gryzlov added.

“At a meeting of the UN Security Council, the Russian delegation actually resorted to blackmail, talking about a ceasefire in global conflicts, including in the Donbas. In particular, Russia noted that international sanctions should be lifted to achieve this goal. Russia’s statement explains why violence continues in Ukraine, Syria, Libya, and other places where Russia is a party to the conflict. But we know very well that even if the sanctions are theoretically lifted, there will be no ceasefire,” Oleh Nikolenko, the speaker of Ukraine’s permanent mission to the UN, wrote on Facebook.

Natalia Tolub