MINSK, 19 June (BelTA) – People taking part in negotiations about the situation in the Donbass area have not reached an agreement on the text of the joint statement about the “bread truce” yet, BelTA learned from the OSCE's special representative in the trilateral contact group on resolving the situation in Ukraine's east Martin Sajdik on 19 June.
The diplomat said: “As for the separation of forces and assets near Stanitsa Luganskaya, the sides mentioned the intention in Minsk two weeks ago but it has not been done yet. Violations of the ceasefire are the reason. The violations started after the sides expressed this intention. There had been no violations for quite a long time before that.” In his words, it seems the sides definitely want to separate forces and assets near Stanitsa Luganskaya. Martin Sajdik said he hopes that the separation will happen but no precise date can be specified for now.
“There is a similar situation with regard to the truce. Despite the obvious interest of the sides in the so-called bread truce, unfortunately, they have yet to agree on the text of the joint statement,” Martin Sajdik said. “The civilians, who live in the conflict zone, need this truce as well as broad mine clearing work. Children, who finished their academic year recently, need it. Children have the right to vacations without fear.” He said he hopes that the ceasefire agreement will be reached during the next meeting of the contact group on Ukraine in Minsk or even before that.
These matters were high on the agenda of today's meeting of the subgroup on security. Work on them will continue.
The subgroup on economic affairs focused on water supply in Donetsk Oblast and Lugansk Oblast on both sides of the contact line. “The subgroup on economic affairs also started a discussion about the removal of barriers standing in the way of economic relations across the contact line but it is too early to speak about details,” Martin Sajdik said.
The subgroup on humanitarian affairs continued discussing the exchange of captives and search for missing persons. Ways to improve conditions for crossing the contact line via the checkpoint in Stanitsa Luganskaya were discussed.
Asked whether negotiations in Minsk became livelier after Volodymyr Zelensky won the presidential election in Ukraine, the diplomat confirmed this fact.
The next session of the trilateral contact group on Ukraine will take place in Minsk on 2 July.
