Russia not interested in new ‘Normandy summit’ – Harmash

Russia is blocking negotiations on Donbas because it is not interested in holding a new meeting of the leaders of the Normandy Four countries.

A member of the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group on Donbas, Serhiy Harmash, said this on the air of the Ukraine 24 TV channel, commenting on Russia's refusal to participate in the extraordinary meeting of the TCG, Ukrinform reports.

When asked what such a meeting would give Ukraine, Harmash replied: “This is important for us, because we still want to fulfill our obligations, in particular, those taken in Paris on December 9 last year. But for this we need a response from the relevant party. For our part, we have done everything. We are ready to disengage forces and equipment in four areas, we are ready to carry out demining at 19 sites. We have opened two new checkpoints. We are even ready to discuss and implement the Steinmeier formula in Ukrainian legislation. We have opened two new checkpoints, and the other side does not open them. We cannot say that there is progress, although there are agreements on everything. We have submitted lists for the detainee exchange four times, and we would like to hold it by the end of the year. That side is blocking everything."

As reported, at the talks on Donbas, the Russian delegation ignored Ukraine's offer to hold an extraordinary meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group before the expiration of last year's agreements reached by the leaders of the Normandy Four in Paris.

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