Ukraine is ready to release the prisoners mutually in “all-in-all” format

A regular Tripartite Contact Group (Ukraine, Russia, OSCE) meeting took place traditionally in a video conference format, the President’s Office reports.

During the discussion, the Ukrainian side insisted on the immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, in particular, taking into account the fires in the Luhansk region. This request was fully supported by the TCG coordinator – the OSCE representative – and agreed by the meeting participants. Thanks to the Ukrainian delegation’s active position, the security guarantees for SES civilian aircraft flights were obtained to eliminate fires in the Luhansk region near the demarcation line.

The OSCE representatives noted the Ukrainian delegation’s constructive position in the political working group. This group discussed the legal aspects of the international armed conflict settlement in the Ukrainian Donbas. The representatives of some Donetsk and Luhansk districts within the Ukrainian delegation took an active part in the discussion.

During the discussion of security issues, solving of the OSCE SMM observers’ access issue to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine gained significant attention. Such access, from the controlled by the Ukrainian government territory, is provided to the full extent, while from the temporarily occupied territory it is blocked. Keeping this in mind, the TCG Coordinator, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Special Representative, Ambassador Heidi Grau, stressed that there should be an equal approach to ensure access for OSCE SMM members in Ukraine.

At the same time, the OSCE acknowledged the significant progress in updated demining plan development. As a part of this work, and following the “Quartet of Normandy” Paris Summit agreements, 13 sites were preliminarily agreed to be demined with the possibility of the next seven sites processing.  To further intensify work on security issues, the Ukrainian delegation initiated an additional meeting of the TCG relevant working group on 14 July.

To resolve humanitarian issues, the Ukrainian delegation stressed the need and readiness to ensure citizens access through all CPVR. But the issue remains unresolved due to the other side’s unhelpful position. The Ukrainian delegation’s position on the possibility of opening two new checkpoints in the Luhansk region within four months was supported.

Ukraine also reaffirmed its readiness to release detainees as soon as possible in a one-on-one format, and stressed that it awaited written confirmation from the other side.

Natalia Tolub