EU urges to start preparations for opening checkpoints in Zolote, Shchastia

This was said in a statement read out by the EU delegation at the OSCE Permanent Council meeting in Vienna on Thursday, July 30, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We welcome the confirmation in the humanitarian working group [of the Trilateral Contact Group] of readiness for the simultaneous opening of two additional entry/exit checkpoints in Zolote and Shchastia in Luhansk region no later than November 10, 2020. We call for the immediate start of preparatory and construction work," the statement says.

The EU also welcomes the agreement reached within the TCG on July 22 on additional measures to strengthen the ceasefire in Donbas, which entered into force on July 27. The EU also hopes that these measures "will bring more peace to the civilian population."

“Following the situation closely, we welcome the first positive consequences of the ceasefire and call on the parties to fully comply with the agreed ceasefire measures,” the EU said.

As reported, during a meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) in Minsk on July 22, the parties agreed on a complete and comprehensive ceasefire on the contact line in Donbas from July 27.

Retaliatory fire responding to an offensive operation is only permissible if it occurs at the order made by the respective leadership of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The TCG shall be notified of the issuance of such orders.

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