Donetsk, Nov 7 – DAN. The DPR Head Denis Pushilin has confirmed the DPR is ready to disengage forces in the Petrovskoye area on November 9.
"We confirm again the readiness of the DPR People's Militia to embark on the practical activities in an earlier disengaged area outside Petrovskoye and informed the OSCE SMM thereof," he said in a statement sent to DAN.
Earlier DPR notified the SMM on its intention to carry out the disengagement on November 9, but a video conference to confirm the date did not take place.
LPR and DPR representatives initialed a Framework Agreement on pullback of forces in Donbass on September 21-23, 2016, which was also signed by representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE. The document provides for three disengagement areas around Zolotoye, Stanitsa Luganskaya (LPR territory) and Petrovskoe (DPR territory). Security zones of at least zone two km wide and two km long are to be established in each sector.
The disengagement was completed in the Petrovskoye zone in October 2016 for the first time. Later Ukraine troops infiltrated back. Donetsk has been demanding to restore parity ever since.
The Contact Group endorsed a plan to eliminate violations in Petrovskoye (DPR) and Zolotoye (LPR) on October 1.
On October 29, the renewal of disengagement was completed in the Zolotoye area (LPR).
As for the Petrovskoye area the disengagement was planned for October 4, but Kiev derailed it.
The Framework Agreement is key to further bilateral withdrawal of forces from the contact line which could significantly contribute to the peaceful settlement in the region. *ot