United States accuses Russia of blocking progress within TCG

“Russia continues to block progress on security measures within the Trilateral Contact Group.  Why won’t Russia show it cares for the people living in the territory it controls and implement once again the additional measures to strengthen the ceasefire, which saved lives and cost Russia nothing?” Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission to OSCE Courtney Austrian said at the OSCE Permanent Council meeting in Vienna on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The U.S. diplomat called on Russia and the forces it leads to “reopen the five entry-exit crossing points that were functioning prior to the pandemic, as well as those at Shchastiya and Zolote.”

“Not only would this demonstrate Russia’s political will to abide by its commitments under the Minsk agreements, reopening the crossing points would have a profound positive impact on the lives of civilians who seek to move freely in their own country, Ukraine,” said the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission to OSCE.

In addition, she called on Russia to engage in mine action talks within TCG.

“The SMM can monitor this conflict, but it cannot end it — only Russia can do that.  We call on Russia to cease impeding the SMM and allow it to fulfill the Mission’s mandate and monitor throughout Ukraine, which includes Crimea,” Austrian stressed.

As a reminder, Russia has long blocked any meaningful talks within the TCG’s Security Working Group. Instead, Russian armed formations continue to violate the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine daily.

Photo credit: twitter.com/USAmbOSCE

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