Donetsk, Jan 31 – DAN. Ukrainian President Petr Poroshenko’s proposal to hold a Contact Group video conference ahead of Minsk talks is a bloodstained publicity move by incumbent Ukrainian authorities, DPR envoy to Minsk talks Denis Pushilin said on Tuesday.
“Ukrainian army and president’s moves are a well-directed action to draw international attention to Ukraine. In effect, it’s publicity stained with blood. Ukrainian forces have been provoking clashes along the contact line for a week, using tanks and heavy artillery,” Pushilin said.
“I’m sure that the Ukrainian armed forces supreme commander is well aware of their actions and that he issues orders himself. Citing concerns over Avdeyevka situation, Petr Poroshenko demands an emergency video conference while being aware of the negotiators’ face-to-face meeting in Minsk on Wednesday,” he said in a statement received by Donetsk News Agency.
It is also evidenced by Poroshenko’s ostentatiously cutting short his visit to Germany, because tensions in Avdeyevka area and Ukrainian forces’ provocations have been routine, but the Ukrainian leader decided to highlight them just now.
The situation along the contact line in the Donetsk People’s Republic has deteriorated dramatically in the past few days. Kiev intensified shelling of DPR territory causing increased damage and civilian casualties, DPR Operations Command said. The enemy has attempted to take DPR militia positions several times in the past few days.*jk