U.S. ready to join Normandy format – Volker

24.08.2019 14:33

Ukrinform

The United States supports the current format of negotiations on the situation in eastern Ukraine, but would be ready to join the talks if needed, U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker has stated.

"We have a very good cooperation with all parties. If there is a need for a larger format, of course, we will join. At the same time, we fully support the Normandy format," he told the Baltic News Service (BNS) on Friday.

Volker commented on a proposal by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky that the Normandy Four group, which now comprises Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany, be expanded to include the U.S. and the United Kingdom.

"As I always said, the issue of these meetings has not been a format, the issue has been Russia's political will to implement its obligations under the Minsk agreements," the U.S. envoy said.

"Whatever you can do to facilitate a genuine peace and Russia to implement Minsk agreements, we are ready to join and help," Volker said.

"The Normandy format is meeting in the coming weeks. We have close touch with Ukrainians; we have close touch with French and Germans. If there is a meeting of a different nature, of course, we will join, but we are not pushing for that either. We are not worried about the format," he added.

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