Ukraine is absolutely dissatisfied with the speed of the Minsk process in Donbas

“Russia’s hybrid army in Donbas does not stop firing, and the hostage release process is paused,” said Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, the Liga.net reports.

The Ukrainian authorities are “categorically dissatisfied” with the slow pace of progress on the Minsk negotiating platform. According to Andriy Yermak, this was discussed at the meetings of the Ukrainian delegation with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and other top German officials in Berlin.

Yermak complained that the occupying country, Russia, does not fulfill the most important condition for advancing peace – it does not stop firing in eastern Ukraine.

“From December 19, 2019, to May 29, 2020, more than 1,500 shellings by illegal armed groups were recorded. During this time, 33 Ukrainian servicemen were killed and another 235 were wounded,” he stressed.

The head of the Office of the President of Ukraine also said that the next stage of mutual release of detainees between Ukraine and the occupation administrations of the Russian Federation in Donbas was “still slowed down”.

“We are hindered not only by the epidemic of COVID-19 but also by the specific non-fulfillment by the other side of the agreement of the Normandy summit in Paris. Namely, about the admission of Red Cross representatives to the places of hostage in the temporarily occupied territories,” he explained.

Natalia Tolub