Kuleba: Progress in ‘Minsk’ format possible if Russia stops demanding Kyiv's dialogue with LPR/DPR

If Russia stops demanding a direct dialogue between Kyiv and the “LPR/DPR”, it will allow moving forward in the implementation of the Minsk agreements and agreeing on things that remain uncoordinated.

"The key difference in the perception of the Minsk agreements is that Russia requires that Ukraine seek a solution on how the Minsk agreements should be implemented in direct dialogue with the so-called ‘LPR/DPR’. But there is no such requirement in the Minsk agreements," Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said at the Ukrainian-French discussion held by the New Europe Center and the French Institute of International Relations in Paris, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

He added that there is a mechanism for implementing the Minsk agreements in the form of the Trilateral Contact Group, but it is virtually blocked as Russia constantly insists on direct dialogue.

"Why is it doing this? Because Russia understands that if Ukraine enters into a direct dialogue with Donetsk and Luhansk, Russia's status in this conflict will change. Now it is a party to the conflict, and if there is a direct dialogue between Kyiv, Donetsk and Luhansk, Russia will become a mediator in the conflict," the minister noted.

In this context, Kuleba stressed that Ukraine will not agree to the Kremlin's demand as it is clear to everyone that Russia is a party to the conflict.

"If Russia changes this position and returns to the logic of the Minsk agreements, we will be able to move forward and agree on the things that remain uncoordinated. Advisers to the Normandy format leaders meet in Berlin today. This is a meeting to continue their recent conversation in Paris, and they discuss this issue," the Ukrainian foreign minister summed up.

As reported, a meeting of advisers to the Normandy format leaders has begun in Berlin.

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