Kuchma, Cevik discuss ceasefire violations in Donbas

Ukraine's representative in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, and Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine Yasar Halit Cevik have discussed ceasefire violations in Donbas and preparations for the next TCG meeting due to take place on August 21, Kuchma's press secretary Darka Oliver has said.

"Leonid Kuchma has received OSCE SMM Chief Monitor Yasar Halit Cevik, who is also the coordinator of the security subgroup of the Trilateral Contact Group. The talks focused on the progress of implementation of the Minsk agreements and preparations for the next TGG meeting in Minsk, scheduled for August 21. Security will be a major issue at this meeting," she wrote on her Facebook page on Friday, August 16.

According to Olifer, during the meeting, the sides paid special attention to ceasefire violations committed by Russian-led forces, first of all, the tragic incidents in which Ukrainian servicemen were killed.

The process of preparations for the repair of a bridge in Stanytsia Luhanska was also discussed. The parties emphasized the importance of reconstruction of this bridge.

According to earlier reports, four Ukrainian servicemen were killed on August 6 after Russian occupation troops shelled Ukrainian positions near the village of Pavlopil in Donetsk region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the leaders of the Normandy Four countries to resume negotiations as soon as possible due to the breach of the truce by Russian occupation forces and the deaths of four Ukrainian soldiers.

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