The “conflict in Donbas” was discussed in Berlin by Russians

Consultations on the settlement of the “conflict in Donbas” took place in Berlin. Dmytro Kozak, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration, and German Assistant Chancellor took part in them, but there were no representatives from Ukraine.

Russia’s chief parliamentarian on Ukrainian issues said that the meeting was held in a “constructive, business-like manner” and that mutual further action had been agreed.

“These consultations will give additional impetus to the intensification of negotiations both in the Normandy format and in the Tripartite Contact Group in Minsk. Appropriate signals will be given,” Kozak said.

He also reminded that specific decisions should be made within the framework of the Tripartite Contact Group or the Normandy format. “These were bilateral consultations, an assessment of the current situation and a look into the future,” explained the Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation.

The question of Dmytro Kozak’s visit to Germany interested journalists, as the Russian official has been on the EU sanctions list since 2014 for committing actions that undermine Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. In March, the Council of the European Union extended these sanctions until 15 September 2020.

The press service of the German government stated that the permission to enter was given to the Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Kozak because the talks in Berlin concerned the settlement of the “conflict in Donbas”. This case is exceptional.

The situation was also commented on by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba, who stated that Kozak had been invited to talks in Berlin due to the lack of progress in the implementation of the Minsk agreements.

“Ukraine knew about Kozak’s visit in advance and will know how it went. We have a rule with our partners: we do not solve anything behind each other’s backs. That’s why we are not talking about any games behind our backs, “said the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

We will remind, in March Dmitry Kozak declared that in Minsk agreed on the new mechanism of settlement of the conflict on Donbas. According to him, this mechanism provides for the creation of a negotiating platform with the participation of the Normandy Four and the parties to the conflict.