Donetsk, Dec 23 - DAN. Ukrainian representatives at the Contact Group talks have rejected the humanitarian initiative of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics to resume the operation of crossing points on the contact line in Donbass, the DPR Foreign Ministry reported on Wednesday.
“The Republics came up with a key humanitarian initiative at the Contact Group session today which Kiev rejected without offering any clear argument,” DPR diplomats said.
DPR Foreign Minister Natalia Nikonorova who represents the Republic at the talks in Minsk said that the People’s Republics had called for “reopening the crossing points for the period of New Year and Christmas Holidays.” The move required preliminary coordination and compliance with precautions to ensure people’s safety during the pandemic.
Ukraine immediately rejected the proposal without discussing it or requesting details. “The Ukrainian representatives have confirmed that their country is not concerned with making people’s life easier or caring about their life and health,” the DPR Foreign Ministry said.
The operation of the crossing points on the contact line between the Donbass Republics and Ukraine-held areas was suspended due to the threat of spread of the coronavirus infection. The Yelenovka checkpoint south of Donetsk is the only functioning crossing point in the Donetsk People’s Republic. It opens as a humanitarian corridor on Mondays and Fridays to link the DPR with Ukraine-held areas.*jk