Donetsk, Feb 12 - DAN. The Donetsk People’s Republic will not withdraw from the Donbass peace talks despite their low efficiency, DPR Head Alexander Zakharchenko told reporters on Monday.
“It is the only venue (in Minsk) where issues can be resolved peacefully,” Zakharchenko said. “It does not live up to expectations today, but there’s no alternative to it. The process will continue, we’ll interact, we manage to settle some issues.”
12 February 2018 marks the 3rd anniversary of the signing of the Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements. The document was finalised and signed amidst the active phase of Donbass fighting. After the signing of the document, Ukrainian army decreased, but did not stop fire at DPR and LPR territory delivering new strikes at Donbass civilian infrastructure.
The Package of Measures envisioned immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in Donbass starting 15 February 2015, withdrawal of heavy weapons, establishment of security zones, discussion of the modalities for the resumption of payment of pensions and allowances to DPR and LPR citizens, and constitutional reform in Ukraine which should result in deep decentralisation.*jk