Kuleba on Donbas: If Russia agrees, conflict will end in a week

"If Moscow makes a political decision to accomplish its promises — and they have repeatedly stated that Donbas should remain a part of Ukraine — and decides to withdraw its troops, the conflict can be resolved easily and quickly enough... If Russia agrees to do so tomorrow, the conflict will end in a week," Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said in an interview with the Tyžden Slovak newspaper, Ukrinform reports with reference to the Ministry’s press service.

As Kuleba noted, Russian President Vladimir Putin understands only the language of force so it is necessary to create such forceful conditions that will make him settle for a compromise.

"We live in a world of diplomacy and arguments. So, force is the main point and the question is who will be able to use it and how," the diplomat said.

He added that the question is how long it will take to force Russia to agree to end the conflict in Donbas.

"Ways of withdrawing troops, ways of holding elections without Moscow's participation — everything has been thought out in detail long since. Therefore, we should ask ourselves not how long it will take to end the conflict, but how long it will take to force Russia to agree to end it," Kuleba explained.

Earlier, the European Union called on Russia, as a participant in the Trilateral Contact Group and a signatory to the Minsk Agreements, to act constructively within the peace process and fulfill its commitments.

The European Union also expressed concern about the escalation of violence in eastern Ukraine and called on Russia to return to the Joint Control and Coordination Center (JCCC) which would facilitate the investigation into ceasefire violations.

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