Russia’s top diplomat
noted that Kiev is doing its utmost to undermine the success of the Contact
Group’s work.
VLADIVOSTOK, April
21. /TASS/. Moscow will try to contribute to holding negotiations between
Donetsk, Lugansk and Kiev, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an
interview on the Zvezda TV channel on Sunday.
According to Lavrov,
during the talks in the Belarusian capital Moscow made great efforts to
convince the leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s
Republic to back the Minsk agreements. "It’s we [Russia] who persuaded
these people to once again show their readiness and even resolve, if you want,
to achieve peace with the rest of Ukraine," Lavrov said in the interview
with program ‘Glavnoye with Olga Belova’
"Unfortunately,
the way the current Ukrainian authorities treat our efforts is disappointing.
Despite provocations, we will seek the implementation of these agreements. We
are a country that is capable of reaching agreements," Lavrov emphasized.
However, Russia’s top
diplomat noted that Kiev is doing its utmost to undermine the success of the
Contact Group’s work. "In practical work when the Contact Group meets
every month, or even more often, the representatives of the Ukrainian government
directly sabotage all what is discussed ranging from security, disengagement of
forces and means, political process to agreeing on a formula of holding
elections and granting this region a special status in accordance with the
Minsk agreements. There is a direct and blatant sabotage."
Lavrov noted:
"We should understand how the election outcome will affect the activity of
the Ukrainian delegation in the Contact Group and who are these people
delegated there."
Source: ITAR-TASS 21-04-2019
