Ukraine’s representative to UN explains why Russia blocks peacekeeping mission in Donbas

They are blocked now since Russia hopes a pro-Russian president will win the elections in Ukraine, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Volodymyr Yelchenko said in an interview with Ukrinform.

 “The decision of the UN Security Council is needed to start a real peacekeeping operation. However, first it must be at least roughly indicated in the Normandy or the Minsk format,” Yelchenko explained.

As he noted, both formats, as well as talks between Volker and Surkov, are now deadlocked as the Kremlin expects a pro-Russian candidate to win the election in Ukraine in spring.

“Russians will do nothing prior to the presidential election in Ukraine. I doubt they will do something after the election, but we'll see... They are waiting for a sort of hypothetical pro-Russian president to come and change everything,” the diplomat said.

According to Yelchenko, these hopes have no chance of becoming reality, since no candidate can change the course of Ukraine.