Volker: Putin’s decision undermines efforts to implement Minsk agreements

Moscow’s decision to ease procedure for those living in occupied territories in eastern Ukraine to obtain Russian citizenship undermines the Minsk process.

U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker wrote this on Twitter.

“Russia’s recent decision to issue passports is highly provocative & is straight from its ‘occupation playbook’ and undermines efforts to implement Minsk & restore Donbas to Ukrainian control,” he wrote.

Volker also added that “Donbas is Ukraine and the people there - regardless of preferred language - are Ukrainian”.

As Ukrinform reported, on April 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree that allows residents of the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine to obtain Russian passports under a simplified procedure.

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