Ukraine refused to dialogue with DNR and LNR militants

Ukraine excludes the possibility of enshrining in the Constitution the special status of the occupied territories of Donbas and refuses direct dialogue with representatives of the so-called DPR and LPR militants within the framework of the Tripartite Contact Group. This was stated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba, commenting on the results of the remote meeting.

The delegation refused any direct dialogue with representatives of the DPR and LPR. This angered the Russian representatives, but this is our principled Ukrainian position, and we continue to insist on it. No direct negotiations. No agreements or progress were made on specific issues. But, let’s say, there was reconnaissance by battle, there was an important probing, where you can move on to find a solution, “Kuleba explained.

It also became known that the Ukrainian side at an extended meeting of the Tripartite Contact Group on May 14 indicated to the representatives of Russia that the “invited” persons from ORDLO are citizens of the Russian Federation. Copies of Russia’s foreign and domestic passports of  Vladislav Deinego were presented to confirm this statement, whom Moscow is involving in the talks as “Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of LNR.”

It should be noted that during the meeting on May 14 the Ukrainian side stressed that elections in the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas may be held in accordance with the Constitution and legislation of Ukraine and on the basis of OSCE Copenhagen criteria, in particular the stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, rule of law and human rights and the protection of minority rights, only after Ukraine has gained border control.

The representative of the Russian Federation Boris Gryzlov accused Ukraine of “sabotage” because the Tripartite Contact Group did not approve the statement on additional measures to the ceasefire.