Minsk Agreements are once again under threat. The President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky said that for him a great victory in the Donbas is the return to Kiev full control over the breakaway territories of DNR and LNR. At first, he wants to replace local militias his troops, and then to withdraw its security forces on the border with Russia, and already then to solve issues with elections and so on. How does this fit in with the Minsk agreement, “MK” has found out from the representative LNR in the Contact group Rodion MIROSHNIK.
– Words Zelensky does not fit in the Minsk agreement. Throughout the package of measures signed in February 2015, the affected subject was the key. Zelensky should manuals Poroshenko, thereby deliberately forcing the entire negotiating process to a standstill. No one under any circumstances will not agree to the transfer of the border to Kiev. To the Ukrainian authorities today there is no trust, especially do not see any desire to move toward resolution of the conflict. On the contrary, put forward conditions which, in our opinion, are dictated by those for whom it is vital to continuation of the confrontation. In particular, this applies to words Zelensky. Such statements, he will not achieve anything except the continuation of hostilities, more deaths and so on. I hope the President understands.
– Since the inauguration Zelensky and to date, the rhetoric of the Ukrainian side in the negotiations changed?
Yes, changed. Before the summit “Norman four” in December 2019 Ukraine has significantly changed its rhetoric and the negotiating group. For example, Irina Gerashchenko absolutely nothing to talk any negotiations turned into a scandal which is immediately imposed on the public. After Gerashchenko and others like her are gone, the dialogue was more restrained. In the end, we went on 11 March 2020, when he made one of the most productive meetings in the framework of the Contact group. Thanks to the participation of Ermak and Dmitry Kozak, we signed a number of agreements, including in the economic sphere and so on. We can say that the agreement was on the surface and do not need any super effort to implement them, but Kyiv still decided to distance themselves from commitments. Representatives of Ukraine began to imitate a dialogue, and then to say that no commitment was not.
at the same time agreed on the Advisory Board?
– well, there was reached an agreement in principle on establishing the Council. While the participation without the right to vote should be taken by the representatives of France, Germany and the OSCE. But in the next two weeks, the Ukrainian side said that he could not take part�� in the creation of the Advisory Council, as Kiev continues to consult on this issue with Berlin and Paris. Consultations on the Council for consultations can last forever. This can happen for two reasons: either the Ukrainian authorities are so much afraid of their radicals, or they so advised the representatives of Western structures.
For the partial year of the reign Zelensky your opinion of him changed? Now you associate with them different expectations?
– of Course, the attitude has changed significantly. But the first disappointment came not in the LC, and the people who elected you. Ukrainians expect the new President will bring peace to them, will fight corruption normalize economic situation in the country. None of this, he did not, therefore we can talk about a complete disappointment. In the framework of the negotiation format we understand that Zelensky has long since been returned to the positions which were made by his predecessor, Petro Poroshenko.
Zelensky said that it means “big win” in the Donbass. In fact, it is the elimination of the DNI and LC without any negotiations with the republics. What is a “big win” for the LC?
– We are and were in reality the “Russian world”. Mentally and legally, we are much closer to Russia than to Ukraine. However, over the last 5-6 years there has been a huge amount of laws that in no way correlate with our understanding of the situation in Ukraine. Every next step of official Kiev moves us away from Association with him. For example the law on “land market”. In such conditions it is impossible to speak not only about so-called “reintegration”, but about a simple coexistence in a single legal field. This is not Ukraine, and I WANT the remaining part of Ukraine, which becomes farther from the Donbass.
– That is, if Kiev will continue the current policy in respect of Donbass and its territories DNR and LC will be part of Russia?
– you Need to be correct for entry into structure of Russia will Russia. At the moment we are talking about the fact that the DNI and LC are in severe mental conflict with Ukraine. We have a completely different understanding of the basic principles in religion, history, foreign policy and so on. To resolve all these issues need a long time and a lot of work, you need to meet each other. Kiev does not see any desire to embark on this path.
So at the current stage a simple implementation of the Minsk agreements will be insufficient to resolve the conflict in the Donbass?
– unfortunately, over the past 6 years, it has created a huge number of obstacles that hinder our rapprochement and goodwill.
