Donetsk, Apr 7 - DAN. The Contact Group security subgroup failed to agree new security zones in Donbass as the Ukrainian negotiators were not interested in disengagment of forces, Donetsk People’s Republic representative to the subgroup Alexey Nikonorov said on Monday after the new round of Donbass peace talks held via video conference.
“Due to a lack of interest on the part of Ukraine in promoting a peaceful settlement of the armed conflict, the parties failed to agree new security zones,” Nikonorov said.
He said that the Ukrainian negotiators, instead of addressing agenda items, were dragging their heels trying to present Russia as a party to the conflict.
The framework agreement on disengagement of forces in Donbass was signed in late September 2016. The objective was to disengage the warring sides avoiding the risk of clashes and shelling. The document set three pilot security areas: Petrovskoye in the DPR and Stanitsa Luganskaya and Zolotoye in the LPR. The parties did not rule out disengagement along the entire contact line in the future.
During the talks at the summit of the “Normandy Four” leaders (Russia, France, Germany, Ukraine) on December 9, 2019, a decision was made to disengage the conflicting parties in three more areas which are still unlocated.*jk