Donetsk, Jan 16 – DAN. The economic subgroup of the Contact Group did not manage to start working in 2017, said DPR delegation to Minsk talks press secretary said.

"The economic subgroup of the Contact Group did not manage to start working today. Kiev representatives still try to review economic issues at other subgroups' meetings. Within the framework of the security subgroup Kiev tried to raise the issue of gas, water and power supply restoration," Viktoria Talakina said.

Such moves are made at other subgroup talks, she added.DPR and LPR positions remains the same: economic issues should be discussed at the appropriate meetings, not on the sidelines and other groups, and only by appointed representatives in the economic subgroup.

Kiev first disrupted the economic subgroup talks on September 7, 2016.DPR envoy said the turndown was due to Kiev unwillingness to engage in dialog with DPR representative, the Republic’s Head chief of staff Maxim Leschenko who is allegedly under criminal investigation in Ukraine as a DPR adherent.*ot