Permanent Representative to OSCE: Russia unwilling to hold any talks until presidential election in Ukraine

“Russia has already openly stated its unwillingness to reach any meaningful arrangements within the Trilateral Contact Group or in other formats until 2019 Presidential elections in Ukraine,” Ambassador Ihor Prokopchuk, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna, said at the 1215th special meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to him, Russia blocks all Ukraine’s proposals on mutual release of detained persons. Despite the recent ceasefire agreements, the Russian armed formations continue everyday shelling of positions of the Ukrainian military and objects of civilian infrastructure. Thousands of people continue to suffer in long queues created by the Russian armed formations at the entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line, with the situation being aggravated by severe winter conditions. 

“The appeals at the OSCE Ministerial Council in Milan on putting an end to aggression and restoration of respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity have been ignored by Moscow, just as in the previous years,” the Ukrainian diplomat stressed.

Prokopchuk added that Ukraine stayed committed to the peaceful politico-diplomatic resolution of the conflict started by Russia, but the developments on the ground demonstrate unchanged Russia’s intent to maintain occupation and use military force for achieving its political goals of forcing Ukraine and its people into submission.